P503ORACLE 503 Mon 3 Mar C4 1712:18  STOCK      Mon Close    Markets were trimmed by profit-taking as hopes for a base rate cut faded behind a weaker pound and oil prices. Consumer sectors like stores, electronics and properties were all easier and gilts gave up 50p. Leading equities were down 2p to 10p. Home Charm slumped 52p on hearing that the merger talks were off and Hampden Homecare lost 7p for the same reason. Speculative demand saw Hepworth Ceramic up 9p, LEC Refridgerators up 17p, Lincroft Kilgour 7p and Greenwich Resources 12p. Golds gained about 50c. FIDELITY INTERNATIONAL ON PAGE 574