(Reuters) – London’s mid-cap index rose on Thursday as buyers awaited a post-Brexit commerce deal to keep away from a messy exit for the UK from the European Union, whereas larger oil costs helped elevate the commodity-heavy FTSE 100.
The domestically focussed FTSE 250 index, thought-about a barometer for Brexit sentiment, rose 0.3% and seemed set to achieve for a fourth straight session.
The blue-chip FTSE 100 added 0.4% as oil costs hit a nine-month excessive after a fall in U.S. stock and on optimism over a U.S. stimulus bundle. [O/R]
Oil majors BP and Royal Dutch Shell had been among the many greatest boosts to the index.
The European Union’s chief govt mentioned Brexit talks have moved nearer to sealing a brand new commerce deal but it surely was nonetheless unclear if they might succeed with simply over two weeks left for Britain’s transition interval out of the bloc to run out.
All eyes might be on a Bank of England assembly later within the day the place the central bank is anticipated to maintain its coverage unchanged.
WPP, the world’s greatest promoting firm, jumped 2.7% after saying it anticipated to return to its 2019 stage of internet gross sales by 2022.
Reporting by Shivani Kumaresan in Bengaluru; modifying by Uttaresh.V