* FTSE 100 up 0.34%, FTSE 250 down 0.03%
* Fed decision, Warsh comments awaited by investors
* Middle East conflict lifts oil, energy stocks
* Greggs ( GGGSF ) jumps after first-half profit rises 20%
* Aberdeen slips on first-half client outflows
(Updates with market close)
July 29 (Reuters) - London's FTSE 100 touched an intraday
record high on Wednesday, driven by a surge in oil stocks
following renewed conflict in the Middle East, while investors
awaited interest rate decisions from the Federal Reserve and the
Bank of England.
The blue-chip FTSE 100 index closed up 0.34% at
10,908.41 points. It made a new peak of 10,951.06 points earlier
in the session.
The midcap FTSE 250 inched down 0.03% to 23,996.81
points.
* Energy stocks jumped 2.9% as oil prices
rose nearly 7% as major airstrikes resumed in the
Middle East and dashed hopes for an imminent end to the
U.S.-Israeli war with Iran.
* The Federal Reserve is seen as more likely to leave
interest rates steady at 1800 GMT on Wednesday, though a growing
number of its policymakers fret openly about inflation and the
outcome is uncertain because of the no-guidance regime adopted
by U.S. central bank chief Kevin Warsh.
* The Bank of England is due to announce its decision on
Thursday, when it is widely expected to keep interest rates
steady.
* In a busy earnings day, Standard Chartered ( SCBFF )
climbed 2.8% after the bank posted a forecast-beating first-half
profit and lifted its full-year income target.
* Glencore ( GLCNF ) climbed 2.8% after the miner reported a
15% increase in first-half copper production, while Rio Tinto
gained 1.6% after reporting a 43% jump in half-year
underlying earnings.
* Greggs ( GGGSF ) rallied 18.5% 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 in the blue-chip index, after the asset manager
reported first-half net outflows of £3 billion ($4 billion).