* FTSE 100 up 0.1%, FTSE 250 up 0.2%
* Aviva steepest decliner on main board
* Pound gains on election hopes
* IQE tanks after results warning
* Buyout offer spurs Consort Medical
(Adds news items, updates to closing prices)
By Muvija M and Shashwat Awasthi
Nov 18 (Reuters) - UK mid-caps closed at their highest level
in nearly 14 months on Monday, boosted by polls pointing to
victory by the ruling Conservatives in upcoming elections, while
a near 5% drop in insurer Aviva weighed on the main board.
The domestically-focused FTSE 250 index rose 0.2%
while the FTSE 100 added 0.1%.
A win by the opposition Labour Party "could cause turmoil on
the markets given the party wants to renationalise several
sectors and shake up taxes," Russ Mould, investment director at
AJ Bell, said.
"However, a lot can change in politics in three weeks so the
markets are likely to remain volatile right up to the big vote."
The bluechips ended higher after their worst weekly
performance in four despite a fall in oil majors, as investors
pooled their money into the so-called defensive stocks that are
perceived less risky at times of uncertainties.
Contradictory reports on Washington and Beijing's trade
dispute kept the market on edge. Chinese news agency Xinhua said
China and the United States had had "constructive talks", while
CNBC reported that U.S. President Donald Trump was reluctant to
roll back tariffs.
Defensives from healthcare giant AstraZeneca to
consumer goods company Reckitt Benckiser gained, despite
rises in the pound.
Aviva fell 4.6% to its lowest point since October
after the insurer said it would keep its operations in Singapore
and China amid speculation of a sale of the Singapore business.
"The fact that they have not been able to get a bid for it
or come to an agreement to sell it would lead you to believe
that they were unable to sell it so it isn't worth what they
think it is," a trader said.
Among smaller companies, IQE plunged 23% after the
tech firm warned on results amid issues with two of its main
customers. Consort Medical sky-rocketed 44% past the
10.1 pound a share level on a bid from Sweden's Recipharm
.
Biotechnology firm Puretech jumped 14% to top the
FTSE 250 index after its affiliate Karuna Therapeutics said its
experimental treatment for acute psychosis in schizophrenia met
key goals in a mid-stage trial.
(Reporting by Muvija M, Shashwat Awasthi and Indranil Sarkar in
Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh Kuber and Andrew Heavens)
