*

FTSE 100 rises 0.2%, FTSE 250 down 0.1%

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Games Workshop ( GMWKF ), Halma stocks surge on strong forecast

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UK factory output declines

(Updates at market close)

Nov 20 (Reuters) -

London's FTSE 100 snapped a five-day losing streak on

Thursday, as defence and energy shares led a recovery amid a

global rally sparked by AI bellwether Nvidia's upbeat forecast.

The blue-chip index finished 0.2% higher, while the

mid-cap index FTSE 250 closed the session 0.1% lower.

Both the indexes were significantly higher earlier in the

session, but they pared some gains later.

A relief rally swept through global equity markets after

Nvidia's upbeat forecast

quelled some concerns

over elevated valuations following analysts' caution

recently that the AI boom may be outpacing fundamentals.

UK's aerospace and defence stocks rebounded

1.3% after a setback in the previous session. Industry

heavyweights Rolls-Royce and BAE Systems both

gained more than 1%.

Energy stocks gained 0.4% as oil prices edged

higher on the day.

On the economic front, U.S. labor data painted a mixed

picture of accelerating job growth and unemployment climbing to

a four-year peak.

At home, British manufacturers reported their sharpest

output drop since August 2020 during the three months to the end

of November, citing uncertainty ahead of next week's budget and

warning that conditions are unlikely to improve soon.

Among other movers, pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca ( AZN )

advanced 0.4% after its drug to control growth of non-cancerous

tumours was approved in the U.S.

Halma jumped 9.2% to an all-time high after the

health and safety technology provider lifted annual revenue

forecast on strong U.S. data centre demand.

Miniature war-games maker Games Workshop ( GMWKF ) soared

13.5%, hitting a record high on strong half-year forecast.

Johnson Matthey ( JMPLF ) shares fell 3.4% after the

chemicals company said finance chief Richard Pike would take on

a new role as chief operating officer.

Sportswear retailer JD Sports fell 3.9% after

forecasting annual profit at the lower end of market

expectations.

(Reporting by Utkarsh Tushar Hathi; Editing by Anil D'Silva)