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* FTSE 100 up 0.2%, FTSE 250 up 0.09%
* Fed decision, Warsh comments awaited by investors
* Aberdeen slips on first-half client outflows
* Middle East tensions lift oil, energy stocks
* Greggs ( GGGSF ) jumps after first-half profit rises 20%
July 29 (Reuters) - London's FTSE 100 edged higher on
Wednesday, supported by mining and energy stocks, as investors
monitored developments in the Middle East and awaited the U.S.
Federal Reserve's interest rate decision later in the day.
The blue-chip FTSE 100 index rose 0.2% to 10,894.67
points by 1038 GMT, while the midcap FTSE 250 inched
0.09% higher.
* Industrial metal miners led gains, rising
2.3%, after Glencore ( GLCNF ) climbed 4% on a 15% increase in
first-half copper production, while Rio Tinto gained
2.3% after reporting a 43% jump in half-year underlying
earnings, its highest in four years.
* Energy stocks also climbed 1.7% as oil
prices rose more than 3% after the U.S. launched its first
airstrikes in the Middle East since suspending its bombing
campaign last week, hitting Iran-backed groups in Iraq jointly
with Saudi Arabia, while Tehran rejected an Omani plan to manage
the Strait of Hormuz.
* The U.S. Fed is expected to hold rates steady on
Wednesday, with Chair Kevin Warsh's statement watched for policy
clues, while the Bank of England is due to announce its decision
on Thursday.
* Among other movers, Greggs ( GGGSF ) rose 14% to the top of
the midcap index after Britain's biggest fast-food chain
reported a 20% rise in first-half profit.
* Aberdeen Group ( SLFPF ) fell 4.5%, making it the worst
performer on the benchmark index, after the British asset
manager reported first-half net outflows of 3 billion pounds ($4
billion).
* Weir Group ( WEIGF ) rose 7.6% and was the top gainer on
the FTSE 100 after the engineering firm reported strong
second-quarter results.
* Aston Martin climbed 1.4% after the luxury
carmaker maintained its full-year forecasts.