(For a live blog on European stocks, type LIVE/ in an Eikon
news window)
* FTSE 100, FTSE 250 up 0.2%
* AstraZeneca up 1.5% as diabetes drug meets study goals
* BHP down after warning on demand
Aug 20 (Reuters) - London's FTSE 100 inched higher in early
deals on Tuesday, as AstraZeneca advanced after its diabetes
drug Farxiga met the main goal of a heart failure study,
offsetting a post-earnings drop for miner BHP.
The FTSE 100 .FTSE added 0.2%, tracking gains in other
major stock markets overnight as hopes grew of fresh stimulus
from central banks and governments to beat back the risk of
recession. The mid-cap FTSE 250 .FTMC also gained 0.2% by 0709
AstraZeneca AZN.L rose 1.5% and was the biggest boost to
the blue-chip index after the results of the Farxiga study.
Shares in mining heavyweight BHP BHPB.L shed 2% as a
warning that global economic headwinds could hit demand for iron
ore and copper took the shine off its largest annual profit in
five years.