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Dec 13 (Reuters) - European shares neared a record high on
Friday on hopes of an orderly Brexit after a landslide election
victory for British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and signs of a
last-ditch trade deal between the United States and China.
Markets believe a Conservative Party win would enable
Johnson to deliver Brexit within weeks, easing fears of an
immediate crash and potentially ending 3-1/2 years of political
instability in Britain. The UK-focused FTSE mid-caps .FTMC index jumped 3.6% at
0806 GMT, outshining the pan-European STOXX 600 .STOXX index's
1.5% rise, boosted by gains in shares of utilities, industrials
and financials.
Investors also took comfort from a report that the United
States will suspend tariffs on Chinese goods set to kick in on
Sunday and cut others in return for Beijing buying more American
farm goods. However, both sides were yet to formally confirm the
news.