FTSE edges higher, buoyed by Ashtead and pharma

While worries about China restrained investor enthusiasm, the FTSE 100 was up 13.97 points, or 0.2 percent, at 6,072.51 by 1038 GMT, broadly in line with European indexes, after falling 3 percent in the previous session after weak manufacturing purchasing managers' data from China. Concern that China's economy may be flagging held back Wall Street on Tuesday, while Asian stocks fell for a third straight session on Wednesday. Traders cited uncertainty over possible equity issuance and the outlook