(For a Reuters live blog on U.S., UK and European stock

markets, click or type LIVE/ in a news window)

*

FTSE 100 up 0.5%, FTSE 250 up 0.3%

*

Informa ( IFPJF ) rises on revising 2025 revenue growth forecast

*

J D Wetherspoon ( JDWPF ) up after reporting a rise in sales

*

Hochschild up on stronger-than-expected quarterly silver

output

By Sukriti Gupta

July 23 (Reuters) - London's main stock indexes hit a

fresh record high on Wednesday, helped by positive corporate

updates, while a U.S.-Japan trade deal also boosted global

sentiment.

The benchmark FTSE 100 was last up 0.5% by 0936 GMT.

The domestically oriented midcap FTSE 250 gained 0.3%.

U.S. President Donald Trump struck a trade deal with Japan,

lowering tariffs on auto imports and sparing Tokyo from

punishing new levies on other goods in exchange for a $550

billion package of U.S.-bound investment and loans.

The UK's automobiles and parts index rose

1.7%, tracking strength in Asian rivals. Aston Martin

rose 7.1%.

Media stocks led sectoral gains, up 2.4%,

boosted by Informa's ( IFPJF ) 5.4% rise after the events and

academic publishing group raised its annual underlying revenue

growth forecast.

Healthcare stocks rose 2.2%, with AstraZeneca ( AZN )

extending its yesterday's gain, up 2.7%, following the

announcement of a $50 billion investment to expand U.S.

manufacturing.

Conversely, construction and materials stocks

lost 0.9%, with Breedon Group ( BRDNF ) down 10.8%, after the

company forecast annual results at the low end of market

expectations.

In company news, J D Wetherspoon ( JDWPF ) gained 3% after the

pub group reported a rise in sales in recent weeks since May.

Shares of precious metals company Hochschild Mining

rose 7.1% on stronger-than-expected quarterly silver output.

British stocks have rallied this year, pushing the FTSE 100

to all-time highs in recent weeks, as hopes of interest rate

cuts, optimism over the UK-US trade deal and a surge in

commodity prices lifted sentiment.

Traders are currently pricing an 87.9% chance of a

25-basis-point BoE cut next month, as per data compiled by LSEG.

This week, attention is on the UK flash Purchasing Managers'

Index for July and retail sales data for June.

Meanwhile, India and Britain will sign a free trade

agreement on Thursday during Indian Prime Minister Narendra

Modi's UK visit, officials said.