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* FTSE 100 up 0.5%, FTSE 250 adds 0.6%
March 8 (Reuters) - British shares rose on Monday, boosted
by gains in mining and energy stocks on higher commodity prices,
while the easing of a stringent lockdown also lifted sentiment.
The blue-chip FTSE 100 index .FTSE rose 0.5%, with mining
stocks, including Rio Tinto RIO.L , Anglo American AAL.L and
BHP BHPB.L , gaining between 0.9% and 1.2%.
Oil producers BP BP.L and Royal Dutch Shell RDSa.L were
also among the biggest gainers on the index as crude oil prices
surged. O/R
The reopening of England's schools to all pupils on Monday
will mark the first step back towards normality and is only
possible because of the efforts of the public to bring COVID-19
infection rates down, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said.
The domestically focused mid-cap FTSE 250 index .FTMC rose
0.6%, led by consumer discretionary stocks.
Senior Plc SNR.L rose 1.8%, even as the British aircraft
parts supplier swung to an annual loss, hit by COVID-19-related
disruptions to flight travel and Boeing's BA.N 737 MAX crisis.
Life insurer Phoenix PHNX.L gained 1.8%, after posting a
48% rise in annual operating profit, helped by its purchase of
Swiss Re 's SRENH.S British business ReAssure last year.