* FTSE 100 up 0.9%, FTSE 250 down 0.1%
* AstraZeneca biggest boost to main index
* RBS slides after reporting Q3 loss
* EU decision on Brexit extension awaited
(Adds company news, updates share moves)
By Muvija M and Shashwat Awasthi
Oct 24 (Reuters) - London's exporter-heavy FTSE 100 jumped
along with its European counterparts on strong French
manufacturing data, while a sharp rise for AstraZeneca after a
2019 forecast upgrade and a slide in sterling amid Brexit woes
also lent support.
The blue-chip index climbed 0.9% to a near one-month
high, taking home gains for the fourth consecutive session and
outshining the European benchmark.
A sell-off in the pound ahead of the European Union's
decision on whether to grant Britain another Brexit extension
and amid risks of a possible general election led the
domestically focussed FTSE 250 0.1% lower.
The past two weeks have taken UK shares from pillar to post
with major Brexit developments including Prime Minister Boris
Johnson striking a new Brexit deal with the bloc and lawmakers
at home forcing his hand into asking for another extension to
the divorce.
Reflecting the anxiety ahead of EU's decision on the way
forward, a sub-index of homebuilders - a sector
considered among most vulnerable to the British economy - dipped
1% on its fourth straight session in the red.
UK blue-chips, on the other hand, accelerated early gains as
a weakening in the local currency boosted dollar earners in the
index including GlaxoSmithKline Plc and HSBC Holdings
Plc .
The bourse was already cheery after a survey showed French
business activity picked up more than expected in October.
'U.S.-CHINA AND BREXIT IN LIMBO'
The FTSE 100, whose components rake in more than two-thirds
of their earnings in U.S. dollars, is on course for its best
weekly performance since early February, as uncertainties over
the course of UK's EU departure have dented the value of
sterling.
AstraZeneca Plc contributed to nearly one-third of
the gains for FTSE 100 after the pharmaceutical firm raised its
annual product sales forecast for the second time this year. The
stock jumped nearly 6% on its best day in three months.
Analytics and decision tools provider Relx Plc and
industrial software company Aveva Group Plc added 4% and
5%, respectively, following trading updates.
"There's not been a huge catalyst for markets this week.
Earnings are largely topping beaten-down estimates. U.S.-China
and Brexit are in limbo," Markets.com analyst Neil Wilson said.
On the other end of the spectrum was Royal Bank of Scotland
Group Plc that skidded 3.3% as it swung to a
third-quarter loss due to a fresh 900 million pound provision to
settle mis-selling claims.
Woodford Patient Capital Trust Plc , formerly run by
once-star money manager Neil Woodford, surged 25% as the company
appointed asset manager Schroders Plc as its new
portfolio manager.
Metro Bank Plc jumped 11.5%, despite a grim
third-quarter earnings report, with a trader saying retail
investors saw a buying opportunity after the troubled lender's
CEO hinted that the company could consider takeover offers.
(Reporting by Muvija M and Shashwat Awasthi in Bengaluru;
Editing by Shounak Dasgupta and Lisa Shumaker)
UK earnings, trading statements calendar - next 7 days
Wednesday 24 April | |
1Spatial PLC | Full Year Results |
abrdn PLC | Trading Statement |
Ecora Resources PLC | Trading Statement |
Fresnillo PLC | Trading Statement |
Lloyds Banking Group PLC | Q1 Results |
Nichols PLC | Trading Statement |
PensionBee Group PLC | First Quarter Results |
PZ Cussons PLC | Trading Statement |
Quilter PLC | Q1 Results |
Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC | Trading Statement |
Sanderson Design Group PLC | Full Year Results |
Serica Energy PLC | Full Year Results |
Star Energy Group PLC | Full Year Results |
Tortilla Mexican Grill PLC | Full Year Results |
Tracsis PLC | Half Year Results |
Warpaint London PLC | Full Year Results |
Thursday 25 April | |
Aquila European Renewables PLC | Full Year Results |
Argo Blockchain PLC | Full Year Results |
AstraZeneca PLC | Q1 Results |
Barclays PLC | Q1 Results |
Checkit PLC | Full Year Results |
Coca-Cola Europacific Partners PLC | Trading Statement |
Destiny Pharma PLC | Full Year Results |
Dillistone Group PLC | Full Year Results |
Focusrite PLC | Half Year Results |
Gem Diamonds Ltd | Trading Statement |
Hikma Pharmaceuticals PLC | Trading Statement |
Hummingbird Resources PLC | Trading Statement |
Ibstock PLC | Trading Statement |
Inchcape PLC | Trading Statement |
J Sainsbury PLC | Full Year Results |
London Stock Exchange Group PLC | Q1 Results |
Persimmon PLC | Trading Statement |
Pinewood Technologies Group PLC | Full Year Results |
PPHE Hotel Group Ltd | Trading Statement |
PureTech Health PLC | Full Year Results |
Relx PLC | Trading Statement |
Renewi PLC | Trading Statement |
Schroders PLC | Q1 Results |
Skillcast Group PLC | Full Year Results |
Travis Perkins PLC | Trading Statement |
Trifast PLC | Trading Statement |
Unilever PLC | Q1 Results |
WAG Payment Solutions PLC | Trading Statement |
Weir Group PLC | Trading Statement |
WH Smith PLC | Half Year Results |
WPP PLC | Trading Statement |
Zinc Media Group PLC | Full Year Results |
Friday 26 April | |
Facilities by ADF PLC | Full Year Results |
Kingspan Group PLC | Trading Statement |
NatWest Group PLC | Q1 Results |
Pearson PLC | Trading Statement |
Record PLC | Trading Statement |
Smurfit Kappa Group PLC | Trading Statement |
Taylor Maritime Investments Ltd | Trading Statement |
Monday 29 April | |
Beazley PLC | Trading Statement |
Biome Technologies PLC | Full Year Results |
Christie Group PLC | Full Year Results |
Gresham Technologies PLC | Full Year Results |
Jadestone Energy PLC | Full Year Results |
Oxford BioMedica PLC | Full Year Results |
SpaceandPeople PLC | Full Year Results |
Tuesday 30 April | |
Avacta Group PLC | Full Year Results |
Card Factory PLC | Full Year Results |
Capital & Regional PLC | Full Year Results |
Coca-Cola HBC AG | Trading Statement |
Elementis PLC | Trading Statement |
essensys PLC | Half Year Results |
Fadel Partners Inc | Full Year Results |
Glencore PLC | Trading Statement |
Hargreaves Lansdown PLC | Trading Statement |
Howden Joinery PLC | Trading Statement |
HSBC Holdings PLC | Q1 Results |
Kelso Group PLC | Full Year Results |
Northcoders Group PLC | Full Year Results |
Phoenix Spree Deutschland Ltd | Full Year Results |
RBG Holdings PLC | Full Year Results |
Rotork PLC | Trading Statement |
Safestore Holdings PLC | Half Year Results |
Shield Therapeutics PLC | Full Year Results |
St James's Place PLC | Trading Statement |
Whitbread PLC | Full Year Results |
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