Nov. 4 (Bloomberg) -- The U.K.'s benchmark index fell, paced by shares of Man Group Plc and Tate & Lyle Plc.

The FTSE 100 Index slipped 16, or 0.3 percent, to 4702.50 as of 9:13 a.m. in London. The FTSE All-Share Index shed 7.17, or 0.3 percent, to 2336.30.

Man Group, the world's largest publicly traded hedge fund company, fell 12 pence, or 0.9 percent, to 1,332 pence. While the company's assets are still rising, the pace of growth has slowed as its biggest funds lost money.

Tate & Lyle, Europe's biggest sugar-cane refiner, slid 3.75 pence, or 0.9 percent, to 435.75 pence. Tate said first-half profit fell 25 percent after the company settled a U.S. antitrust lawsuit. Net income in the six months ended in September fell to 58 million pounds ($107 million), or 12.3 pence a share, from 77 million pounds, or 16.3 pence, a year earlier.

The Bank of England probably will keep its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 4.75 percent as declines in manufacturing, house prices and bank lending suggest the economy is cooling, a Bloomberg survey of economists showed. The central bank will announce the decision at noon.

U.K. house prices in October registered their biggest monthly decline in four years, HBOS Plc said, as five interest rates in a year crimped demand. House prices fell 1.1 percent, bringing down the annual rate of growth to 18.5 percent from 20 percent a month earlier.

The following stocks are making gains or losses today. Stock symbols are in parentheses after company names.

BP Plc (BP/ LN), Europe's largest oil company, rose 4.5 pence, or 0.8 percent, to 537.5 pence. Analysts at Deutsche Bank AG raised their share-price forecast on the stock to 535 pence from 515 pence.

Psion Plc (PON LN), a provider of wireless services and equipment to businesses, fell 4.25 pence, or 7.4 percent, to 53 pence. The company said earnings at its main Teklogix wireless business this year will be lower than forecast because it is failing to meet delivery times for new products. ``There have been a number of technical challenges in the introduction of new products,'' Psion said.

Randgold & Exploration Ltd. (RRS LN) dropped 6 pence, or 1.1 percent, to 564 pence. The South African mining investment company posted a third-quarter loss as gold production plunged 54 percent and costs rose.

The net loss was $2.4 million, or 4 cents a share, compared with a profit of $13.7 million, or 24 cents, a year earlier, Randgold said.

Synergy Healthcare Plc (SYR LN) rose 11.5 pence, or 3.2 percent, to 367.5 pence. The provider of medical-support services such as linen rental and equipment sterilization to the U.K. National Health Service, said first-half profit jumped 81 percent, buoyed by revenue from the July acquisition of Lips Textielservice Holding BV. Net income for the six months ended Oct. 3 rose to 2.15 million pounds, or 7.26 pence a share, from 1.18 million pounds, or 5.27 pence, in the year-earlier period.

To contact the reporter on this story: Gregory Ruben in Milan at gruben@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: November 4, 2004 04:39 EST