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* FTSE 100 up 0.2%, FTSE 250 up 0.1%
* Slowdown in new coronavirus cases continues
* BP , Shell boost main bourse
* Dunelm, Plus500 gain among midcaps
Feb 12 (Reuters) - UK shares inched higher on Wednesday,
with heavyweight oil firms supporting gains on the main index,
as investors continued to take comfort from a drop in the number
of new coronavirus cases reported in China.
China on Wednesday reported its lowest number of new
coronavirus cases since late January, leading some experts to
suggest the outbreak may plateau and subside soon. That helped
the FTSE 100 .FTSE climb 0.2% in early deals. Oil majors Shell RDSa.L and BP BP.L were the biggest
boosts to the blue-chips, as they tracked a surge in crude
prices. O/R
The mid-cap FTSE 250 .FTMC edged 0.1% higher, helped by a
4% gain in home furnishings retailer Dunelm DNLM.L after an
upbeat profit forecast and online trading platform Plus500
PLUSP.L , which also added about 4%.