Last checked at 
* FTSE 100 up 0.8%, FTSE 250 up 0.6%
* Banks, miners best blue-chip gainers in early trade
* Housebuilders gain on Halifax data
* Bluechips on course for worst week in 2 months
(Adds company news items, updates share moves)
Dec 6 (Reuters) - London's FTSE 100 was propelled higher by
banks and miners on Friday as optimism around the Sino-U.S.
trade talks rose, but recent often rocky commentary on any deal
put the index on course for its worst week in two months.
The main index advanced 0.8% by 0927 GMT with all
sectors in the positive territory, after slipping to a two-month
low in the last session, while the more domestically-focussed
FTSE 250 index rose 0.6%.
U.S. President Donald Trump's comments that the trade talks
were "moving right along" and China's decision to waive imports
tariffs for some soybeans and pork from the United States helped
lift sentiment as a torrid week drew to a close.
Investors will be looking closely at the U.S. jobs report,
being published later today, for hints on the health of the
world's largest economy at a time when growth has been
moderating across the world partly due to trade disputes.
"Though the main focus for the markets at the moment is
confusing trade deal situation, with the UK election as a local
sideshow for British investors, this afternoon does provide some
distraction in the form of the latest nonfarm jobs report,"
Spreadex analyst Connor Campbell wrote.
Notable blue-chip performers were miner Antofagasta
and luxury brand Burberry, which extended gains on a
report of French group Kering's potential takeover
interest in Italy's Moncler.
Ad firm WPP climbed 2% after it said it would return
about $1.2 billion to shareholders and Primark-owner Associated
British Foods rose 1% after it maintained its earnings
target with anticipated progress in its sugar and grocery
businesses.
Housebuilders, which have been hit by Brexit
jitters due to their domestic exposure, jumped 1.1% after
mortgage lender Halifax said house prices rose in November at
the fastest annual rate in seven months.
Despite the day's recovery, the FTSE 100 was set for its
steepest weekly fall in two months as Trump's indication that a
trade deal with China could only come following the 2020
election, which knocked nearly 2% off the index on Tuesday.
Sterling's recent rally on optimism that next week's general
election in Britain will help deliver Brexit has also weighed on
the exporter-heavy bourse.
The polls have so far indicated a win for the ruling
Conservative Party led by Boris Johnson.
"This time next week the votes will have been counted and we
in the UK may finally have an idea on what's going to happen
with Brexit and who's going to lead it," OANDA analyst Craig
Erlam said.
(Reporting by Muvija M and Safia Infant in Bengaluru; Editing
by Sriraj Kalluvila, Bernard Orr)
