- FTSE 100 up 0.3%, FTSE 250 adds 0.2%
Oct 3 (Reuters) - The UK's benchmark FTSE 100 opened higher on Thursday, supported by a rise in energy shares, while Britain's biggest supermarket group Tesco climbed on raising its annual profit forecast.
The blue-chip FTSE 100 index was up 0.3% by 0708 GMT, while the mid-cap index FTSE 250 moved 0.2% higher.
Heavyweight oil and gas shares rose 0.6%, extending gains for the fifth consecutive session, as crude prices rose on the prospects of a widening Middle East conflict that could disrupt supply from the key exporting region.
Tesco shares climbed 1.6% after the supermarket group raised its profit guidance for the year as it reported a 10% increase in first-half core profit that reflected market share gains.
The broader personal care, drug and grocery store index gained 0.6%.
On the contrary, insurer Phoenix Group, and investment platform Hargreaves Lansdown fell 5.6% and 2.7%, respectively, as the stocks traded without entitlement to their latest dividend payout.
Meanwhile, Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey said there was a chance the central bank could move more quickly to cut interest rates if there is further good news on inflation.
Later in the day, services PMIs in Europe are likely to show further economic slowdown, reinforcing expectations for rate cuts.
In the U.S., jobless claims and the ISM services survey will be key data points for the day, but the main focus will be Friday's payroll figures, crucial for assessing labour market health.
Reporting by Khushi Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Mrigank Dhaniwala
Source: Reuters