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* FTSE 100 up 0.5%, FTSE 250 jumps 1.2%
May 27 (Reuters) - British midcaps hit an 11-week high on
Wednesday as hopes of an economic recovery with the easing of
coronavirus lockdowns offset concerns about growing political
unrest in Hong Kong over Beijing's proposed national security
laws.
The domestically focussed FTSE 250 .FTMC gained 1.2%,
rising for an eighth straight session as thousands of retailers
prepared to reopen from June 1 from a months-long shutdown that
has crushed the UK economy.
The blue-chip FTSE 100 .FTSE added 0.5%, with financials,
energy and industrial stocks providing the biggest boosts in
early trading.
Doorstep lender Provident Financial Plc PFG.L jumped 5.5%
as it flagged signs of a modest recovery in May after tighter
underwriting rules led to a drop in business volumes in April.
Asset manager St James 's Place SJP.L rose 3.2% and was
among the biggest gainers on the FTSE 100 after reporting a
modest 1% gain in April net inflows.