FTSE flat with quarter-end in focus, oils gain
* Oils track stronger crude higher
* Pharmas gain but other defensives weaker
* UK final Q1 GDP contracts at fastest rate in 50 yrs
By Farah Master
LONDON, June 30 (Reuters) - Britain's top share index was flat in late morning trade on Tuesday as energy stocks got a lift from higher crude prices, offsetting losses in food retailers, tobacco and beverage companies.
By 1032 GMT, the FTSE 100 .FTSE index was 0.44 points lower at 4,293.59 after gaining 1.3 percent in the previous session.
The blue chip index is up 9.1 percent on the quarter and on track for its best such performance since the final quarter of 2003. The index has gained 23.8 percent since touching a six-year low on March 9.
"It's almost as if the summer holidays have started early. I think it is much of the same sideways movement and there is not a tremendous amount of activity excluding the mining sector," said Tim Whitehead, a stockbroker at Redmayne-Bentley. Continued...
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