* FTSE 100 up 0.7%, FTSE 250 up 0.2%
* AstraZeneca biggest boost to main index
* RBS slides after reporting Q3 loss
(Adds company news items, analyst comments, updates share
prices)
By Muvija M and Shashwat Awasthi
Oct 24 (Reuters) - London's FTSE 100 rose on Thursday along
with its European counterparts, helped by strong French
manufacturing data and gains in AstraZeneca after a 2019
forecast upgrade.
The blue-chip index .FTSE climbed 0.7% to a near one-month
high by 0730 GMT, on course for its fourth session of gains. A
dip in sterling limited the FTSE 250 .FTMC to a 0.2% gain.
After rising to session highs following data from France,
the main bourse eased slightly after another survey showed
employment in Germany's private sector fell for the first time
in six years in October. The conflicting data come at a time of existing fears over
global economic growth, as multiple unfavourable events
including the U.S.-China trade tussle and Brexit play out.
In the past two weeks UK shares have been volatile with
major Brexit developments including Prime Minister Boris Johnson
striking a new Brexit deal with the European bloc and lawmakers
at home forcing his hand into asking for another extension to
the divorce.
'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 gain since early June, as uncertainties over the course
of UK's EU departure have dented the value of sterling.
AstraZeneca AZN.L gained 3%, its biggest one-day rise in
three months, after the pharmaceutical giant raised its annual
product sales forecast for the second time this year.
Analytics and decision tools provider Relx REL.L and
industrial software company Aveva AVV.L added 2.5% each
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
RBS.L that skidded 3% as it swung to a third-quarter loss due
to a fresh 900 million pound provision to settle mis-selling
claims.
A notable mid-cap performer was Kaz Minerals KAZ.L that
jumped 7% after record third-quarter copper production as it
ramped up operations at its biggest mines in Kazakhstan.
Woodford Patient Capital Trust WPCT.L , formerly run by
high-profile money manager Neil Woodford, jumped 22% as the
company appointed asset manager Schroders SDR.L as its new
portfolio manager.