British stocks rise as China to cut some US import tariffs
China will cut additional tariffs levied against 1,717 US goods last year, after a Phase 1 trade deal was signed last month, and as fears persist over the coronavirus outbreak, which has killed more than 550 people
UK shares advanced for the fourth straight session on Thursday as risk sentiment picked up further after China pledged to halve tariffs on some US imports, though Royal Mail slid to an all-time low after pointing to a challenging year ahead.
China will cut additional tariffs levied against 1,717 US goods last year, after a Phase 1 trade deal was signed last month, and as fears persist over the coronavirus outbreak, which has killed more than 550 people.
The FTSE 100 .FTSE jumped 0.6 percent. Caterer Compass Group (CPG.L) reported higher quarterly revenue and was among the top gainers. The FTSE 250 rose 0.7 percent, boosted by an 8 percent rise in insurer Beazley as its 2019 profit surged.
Royal Mail (RMG.L) sank 10 percent after it warned outlook for the 2020-21 fiscal year was "challenging" and said the threat of a labour strike in late 2019 hurt parcel revenue growth during the Christmas period.