(Reuters) -The UK’s main stock indexes closed higher on Thursday, helped by positive corporate updates, while data suggested the labour market was cooling less than had previously been feared.
The blue-chip FTSE 100 rose 0.5%, while the midcap FTSE 250 index added 0.8% to close at a more than three-year high.
Ocado jumped 18.5%, leading gains in the midcap index, as the online supermarket and technology group reported a 76.5% rise in underlying earnings in its first half and said the priority is to turn cash positive in the next financial year.
Data showed British pay growth slowed in May and employee numbers dropped further last month, but the cooling in the labour market that had alarmed some policymakers appeared less acute than previous figures had suggested.
It follows Wednesday’s report that showed inflation in June rose to its highest since January 2024 at 3.6%.
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