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* FTSE 100 up 0.8%, FTSE 250 up 0.4%
* Preliminary trade deal spurs buying
* Positive sentiment around Brexit persists
* Sports Direct jumps after H1 results
Dec 16 (Reuters) - London's main index gained for the fourth
straight session, as investors cheered a preliminary U.S.-China
trade deal and hopes of clarity on Brexit after Prime Minister
Boris Johnson's election win, while the mid-caps hovered near a
record high hit in the previous session.
The FTSE 100 .FTSE was up 0.8% by 0814 GMT, lifted by
trade-exposed stocks such as HSBC HSBA.L and miners
.FTNMX1770 after U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer
said a "phase-one" deal was "totally done". More domestically focussed blue-chip firms, including banks
such as Barclays BARC.L and Lloyds LLOY.L advanced more than
1% each as sentiment remained upbeat after UK Prime Minister
Boris Johnson stormed to a victory in the general election.
The FTSE 250 .FTMC rose 0.4%, after posting towering gains
on Friday, amid hopes that the path to a Brexit deal would now
be smooth.
An 11% jump in Sports Direct SPD.L after the company
posted an upbeat first-half earnings also supported the index.