UPDATE 2-FTSE 100 lifted by encouraging China trade comments and falling pound

Published 2019/08/29, 18:41
© Reuters.  UPDATE 2-FTSE 100 lifted by encouraging China trade comments and falling pound

* FTSE 100 up 1%, FTSE 250 up 0.5%

* Sterling weakness helps exporters gain

* Mid-cap Amigo sinks after forecast cut

* Micro Focus tanks after revenue warning

* Tullow Oil down after scrapping Uganda stake sale (Adds company news items, updates to closing prices)

By Shashwat Awasthi and Indranil Sarkar

Aug 29 (Reuters) - London's main index jumped on Thursday as China's fresh comments on possibly resolving the long-drawn trade spat with the United States lifted investor spirits, while exporter stocks gained as sterling fell after the suspension of parliament raised concerns of a no-deal Brexit.

The main index .FTSE added 1%, as internationally exposed firms such as HSBC HSBA.L and AstraZeneca AZN.L rose and offset a 32% plunge in Micro Focus MCRO.L after the IT group warned on its full-year revenue. FTSE 250 midcap index .FTMC ended up 0.4%, with gains capped due to a more than 50% drop in consumer credit provider Amigo Holdings AMGO.L following an annual forecast cut. a subdued start to the session earlier in the day, investor sentiment swiftly picked up as China's commerce ministry said Beijing and Washington were discussing face-to-face trade talks that were scheduled to be held in September. news was a welcome relief to stock markets, which have seen the trade dispute stoke fears of an impending recession in recent weeks.

The FTSE 100 is still on course for its sharpest monthly drop in four years.

"The unfortunate reality is that these comments are likely more hot air but with everything that's happening at the moment, they do provide rays of hope," said Oanda senior market analyst Craig Erlam.

Constituents of the exporter-heavy FTSE 100 also found support in a drop in sterling value after Prime Minister Boris Johnson's plan to suspend parliament. The move has enraged his opponents as it limits the time available to prevent Britain crashing out of the European Union without a deal in October.

"The calculation here would be that the Prime Minister is taking a high stakes gamble on forcing a vote of no confidence and daring MPs to push him towards calling a general election," CMC Markets analyst Michael Hewson said.

Among single stocks, technology company Smiths Group SMIN.L was the biggest riser among bluechips after Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) raised its rating on the stock. Tullow Oil TLW.L fell 5.1% after the oil and gas explorer said its plan to sell another stake in a Uganda project has been called off due to a tax dispute with the Ugandan authorities. the other end of the spectrum, oilfield service provider Hunting HTG.L jumped 5% on its best day since January as strong activity in the United States drove demand for its equipment, thereby boosting earnings.

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