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* FTSE 100 up 1.1%, FTSE 250 adds 0.96%
April 6 (Reuters) - British shares were boosted on Tuesday
by heavyweight commodity and banking stocks, while prospects of
a planned economic reopening from a coronavirus lockdown
starting next week lifted beaten-down stocks of restaurants and
pub operators.
The blue-chip FTSE 100 index .FTSE rose 1.1%. Energy
stocks BP Plc BP.L and Royal Dutch Shell Plc RDSa.L , and
miners Rio Tinto RIO.L , Anglo American AAL.L and Antofagasta
Plc ANTO.L gained between 2.1% and 2.6%, tracking higher crude
and metal prices. O/R MET/L
Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday said with the vaccine
rolling out rapidly across Britain and infection numbers
falling, England could proceed to Stage 2 of his roadmap out of
lockdown from April 12 with the opening of all shops, gyms,
hairdressers and outdoor hospitality areas. The domestically focused mid-cap FTSE 250 index .FTMC
added 0.96% with cruise operator Carnival Plc CCL.L jumping
5.3% and providing the biggest boost.
Pub operators and restaurants J D Wetherspoon JDW.L ,
Restaurant Group RTN.L and Marston's Plc MARS.L rose between
1.4% and 4% after Minister for COVID Vaccine Deployment Nadhim
Zahawi said pubs and restaurants won't require vaccine
certificates in the initial re-opening of England's economy.