20 January 2021 | 08:45am StockMarketWire.com - UK stocks edged lower in early trading on Wednesday as a soaring Covid-19 casehold stokes concerns that Britain's third nationwide lockdown won't be ending any time soon, tempering US stimulus hopes. At 0825, the benchmark FTSE 100 index was down 5.22 points, or less than 0.1%, at 6,707.73. Home secretary Priti Patel warned the national lockdown has 'a long way to go' before being lifted, in an interview with Sky News. In a busy morning for the mining sector, BHP firmed 1.5% to £21.425 after it reported a 3% rise in fourth-quarter iron ore output on a year-on-year basis, plus higher production of copper, offset by lower oil and gas output.