Britain's FTSE steadies near highs after mixed earnings

Britain's top share index stayed within reach of all-time highs on Wednesday as traders digested mixed earnings news on a busy day of corporate updates. Weak numbers from the likes of British American Tobacco (LSE: BATS.L - news) were partly counteracted by a boost from better-than-expected results from Next and others. Next, Britain's second-biggest clothing retailer, rose 2.9 percent as it maintained its profit forecast after posting first-quarter sales slightly ahead of its own guidance. "We