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FTSE 100 up 0.3%, FTSE 250 adds 0.4%
Feb 1 (Reuters) - UK stocks inched higher on Wednesday after a slate of positive corporate updates, although the mood was tempered by concerns about a slowing British economy and upcoming monetary policy decisions.
The blue-chip FTSE 100 gained 0.3% by 0815 GMT, while the midcap FTSE 250 index climbed 0.4%. Entain climbed 2.3% after the gambling firm raised its annual profit forecast.
ITV rose 3.0% after Reuters reported veteran Hollywood producer Peter Chernin and French TV production group Banijay's parent had expressed interest in the British broadcaster. Darktrace shares added 1.9% after the cybersecurity firm announced share buybacks, a day after a short-seller report knocked its shares by as much as 10%. Housing stocks fell 0.4% as data showed British house prices dropped by a bigger-than-expected 0.6% in January and are now 3.2% below their peak in August, following a surge in borrowing costs. (Reporting by Sruthi Shankar in Bengaluru; editing by Eileen Soreng)
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