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FTSE 100 down 0.9%, FTSE 250 off 0.8%
March 24 (Reuters) - London stocks fell at the open on Friday, dragged lower by losses in precious metal miners on weaker gold prices, while banks also extended declines. By 0814 GMT, the blue-chip FTSE 100 fell 0.9%, extending losses after a near 1% drop on Thursday. Precious metal miners shed 0.9% in early trade, as gold prices slipped due to a strengthening dollar. British banks lost 1.8%, falling for a third straight session. Lender Barclays fell 2.8% after HSBC reduced its price target on the stock. The more domestically focussed FTSE 250 midcap index fell 0.8%, with UK-listed shares of TUI AG down 9.4% after announcing a capital increase. Smiths Group rose 1.2% as the industrial technology company upgraded its annual forecast after first-half profit climbed 27%. Meanwhile, data showed British retail sales unexpectedly rebounded by 1.2% in February versus expectations of a rise of 0.2%. (Reporting by Shashwat Chauhan in Bengaluru; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu)
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