*
FTSE 100 up 0.5%, FTSE 250 adds 0.2%
Feb 9 (Reuters) - A slate of upbeat earnings from blue-chip companies kept UK's FTSE 100 pinned near record levels on Thursday, although shares of Entain tumbled after a report suggested U.S. casino operator MGM was ending talks to takeover the betting firm.
The blue-chip FTSE 100 rose 0.5% by 0820 GMT, hovering near record levels hit in the previous session, while the midcap FTSE 250 index inched up 0.2%. Unilever rose 0.5% after the consumer goods giant reported quarterly underlying sales growth above expectations, helped by higher prices for its detergents, soaps and packaged food. AstraZeneca jumped 1.7% after the drugmaker beat expectations with fourth-quarter profits despite lower than expected sales of its best-selling oncology and rare blood disorder drugs. Entain tumbled 11.4%, after a Jefferies report pointed to MGM's chief executive officer saying the company had "moved on" from the gambling firm amid speculation of a takeover.
British American Tobacco fell 3.9% after it reported full-year results and said it expects to complete the sale of its Russian business to its local partner in 2023. The company controlled almost a quarter of the Russian market before the country invaded Ukraine. (Reporting by Sruthi Shankar in Bengaluru; Editing by Rashmi Aich)
8780; outside U.S. +91 80 6182 2787;))UK hot stocks: and Wall Street: Gilts report: Euro bond report Pan European stock report: Tokyo stocks: HK stocks: Sterling report: Dollar report:
* For company prices, click on -
* Company directory: By sector:
* For pan-European market data, click on -
* European Equities speed guide................ FTSE Eurotop 300 index........................... DJ STOXX index................................... Top 10 STOXX sectors........................ Top 10 EUROSTOXX sectors................... Top 10 Eurotop 300 sectors.................. Top 25 European pct gainers.................... Top 25 European pct losers..................... ))
