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* BHP Group rises on upbeat 2021 outlook
* Pearson jumps after strong online sales
* Global stocks rally as Biden takes office
* FTSE 100 flat, FTSE 250 adds 0.8%
(Updates to market close; Adds details, comment)
By Shivani Kumaresan
Jan 20 (Reuters) - UK's FTSE 100 rose on Wednesday as miners
gained after a strong production forecast from BHP Group, while
encouraging updates from luxury brand Burberry and education
group Pearson drove optimism about the earnings season.
BHP Group Ltd climbed 2.8% after it forecast record
iron ore production for fiscal 2021, helped by high prices for
the commodity. Other miners Rio Tinto, Anglo American
and Glencore rose more than 2%.
Global markets rallied in anticipation of more fiscal
spending as Joe Biden prepared to take charge as the 46th U.S.
president.
"There is a view in the markets that more spending is in the
pipeline, after all, Mr Biden will want to start his presidency
on a positive note," said David Madden, market analyst at CMC
Markets UK.
The FTSE 100 index rose 0.4% and the domestically
focussed FTSE 250 index added 1.4%.
The FTSE 100 has recorded consistent monthly gains since
November after the sealing of a Brexit trade deal and hopes of a
vaccine-led economic recovery, but has recently lost steam as
tighter business restrictions sparked fears of a slow rebound.
Burberry rose 3.9% as it stuck to its full-year
goals and said higher full-price sales would boost annual
margins and Asian demand remained strong.
Global education group Pearson jumped 8.6% after
its global online sales grew 18% in 2020, helped by strong
enrolments in virtual schools.
WH Smith Plc surged 10.4% to the top of the FTSE
250 index as its trading during Christmas was ahead of its
expectations.
(Reporting by Shivani Kumaresan in Bengaluru; editing by
Uttaresh.V, William Maclean)
