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* FTSE 250 hits record high
* Saga jumps on strong trading in its insurance business
* FTSE 100 up 0.9%, FTSE 250 adds 0.8%
(Updates to close)
By Devik Jain and Shashank Nayar
April 7 (Reuters) - London's FTSE 100 ended higher on
Wednesday, led by gains in commodity stocks and a weaker pound
lifted exporters, while mid-caps closed at record highs due to a
surge in shares that stand to benefit as the economy reopens.
The blue-chip index rose 0.9%, with heavyweights
including Unilever and HSBC Holdings, gaining
between 1.9% and 2.1% on a weaker pound.
Commodity-focused stocks boosted the index, with BP Plc
and Royal Dutch Shell Plc gaining 1.9% and 1.0%,
respectively, while miners Rio Tinto, BHP Group
added more than 2%.
"British equities have now got a good momentum, there is a
clear path for businesses to return to action and with COVID
cases coming down, the outlook among investors is extremely
positive," said Michael Baker, an analyst at ETX Capital.
The mid-cap FTSE 250 index rose 0.8% to its all-time
high.
"We expect UK equities to gain further as the COVID
vaccination drive gains more ground, markets are expected to
catch up to its European peers," added Baker.
Britain began rolling out Moderna Inc's COVID-19
vaccine on Wednesday in Wales in a boost to the health system
after supplies of other shots started to slow.
The FTSE 100 has risen 6.6% so far this year, supported by
speedy vaccine rollouts and a raft of economic stimulus, but has
been range-bound since early-January as a resurgence in virus
cases across Europe and heightened treasury bond yields made
investors cautious.
Among other stocks, Hilton Food Group rose 2.9% on
higher annual pre-tax profit, while over-50s holidays group Saga
jumped 11.4% after it posted profit on an underlying
basis.
Deliveroo gained 2.1%, the first day retail
investors could trade the stock bought during the food delivery
group's initial public offering, even as some of its riders
cycled through London to demand fair pay.
(Reporting by Devik Jain in Bengaluru; Editing by Subhranshu
Sahu, Uttaresh.V and Alison Williams)