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* BP rises as company advances net debt target to Q1
* UK shops see increase in footfall in the week to April 3
* FTSE 100 up 1.3%, FTSE 250 adds 1.2%
(Updates to close)
By Devik Jain and Shashank Nayar
April 6 (Reuters) - British shares ended higher on Tuesday
led by heavyweight commodity-focussed stocks, while prospects of
a planned economic reopening from a coronavirus lockdown
starting next week helped boost sentiment towards beaten down
travel and leisure shares.
The blue-chip FTSE 100 index ended up 1.3% at its
highest since Jan. 8. Energy group BP Plc gained 3.5% and
was the biggest boost to the index after saying it expects to
reach its $35 billion net debt target in the first quarter of
2021.
Mining heavyweights Rio Tinto, BHP group
and Anglo American jumped nearly 2.5% each, tracking
higher metal prices.
"As uncertainty about Brexit has pretty much cleared away
and (hopes) of a stronger global economic recovery (increase),
I'd expect the UK economy is going to be in a better position
than some this year and sort of more domestic kind of UK focus
stocks to do quite well," said Neil Wilson, chief market analyst
for Markets.com.
The FTSE 100 has risen 5.6% so far this year, supported by
speedy vaccine rollouts and a raft of economic stimulus,
although a spike in virus cases across Europe and a jump in
benchmark bond yields tempered optimism.
The number of people heading out to shops across Britain
rose by 8.5% in the week to April 3 versus the previous week
despite the national lockdown, market researcher Springboard
said on Tuesday.
Consumer goods manufacturers Unilever and Diageo
also led gains to the FTSE 100, adding 1.6% and 2.5%
respectively.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday said England could
proceed to Stage 2 of his roadmap out of lockdown from April 12
with the opening of all shops, gyms, hairdressers and outdoor
hospitality areas.
Globally, mood was also lifted by strong economic data from
the United States and China, and an easing in bond yields after
a month of rapid gains.
(Reporting by Devik Jain in Bengaluru, Editing by Sherry
Jacob-Phillips, Uttaresh.V and Barbara Lewis)
