12 April 2021 | 12:26pm StockMarketWire.com - UK stocks were slightly lower by lunchtime on Monday, even as local restaurants, bars and other non-essential businesses began to reopen, with investor sentiment uncertain amid global jitters over rising bond yields and lofty stock valuations. By lunchtime, London's blue chip benchmark index was down 22 points, or 0.32%, at 6,893.84, with high street names weakening on reopening day as investors decided to 'sell the fact'. Shopping centre owner Hammerson cheapened 2.4% to 36.5p after it confirmed press speculation that it was in talks about a possible sale of its retail parks portfolio to Brookfield. Pharmaceutical group AstraZeneca edged 0.2% higher to £72.73 after it said its diabetes drug Farxiga did not improve the condition of patients hospitalised with Covid-19 in a clinical trial.