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FTSE 100 up 0.3%, FTSE 250 up 0.8%

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Genus rises on Chinese porcine JV, strong annual profit

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UK's hot summer boosts sales at electrical retailer Currys ( DSITF )

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Jet2 ( DRTGF ) forecasts lower profit as later bookings trend

worsens

Sept 4 (Reuters) - UK shares nudged higher on Thursday,

led by gains in consumer staples and utility stocks, while

investors assessed corporate updates.

The blue-chip FTSE 100 was up 0.3% by 1020 GMT,

while the domestically focussed midcap index added 0.8%.

Bond-proxy utilities rose with United Utilities

up 1.5%, National Grid up 1.3%, while Severn Trent

added 1.6%.

Retail stocks rose 2.5%, boosted by Currys ( DSITF )

, up 16.9%, after the electricals retailer said group

sales rose 3% in the summer period, putting it on track to meet

forecasts. Currys ( DSITF ) also launched a 50 million pound ($68 million)

share buyback.

Other major retailers also advanced with JD Sports

Fashion up 2.2%, Frasers ( SDIPF ) up 3.3%, and Next

gaining 2.6%.

Consumer staples stocks such as Tesco ( TSCDF ), Unilever ( UL )

, Reckitt, and M&S also rose.

Heavyweight bank stocks also advanced,

with Lloyds rising 1.2%.

Reports

said the bank will consider possible dismissal of about

3,000 employees that have been judged to be among the bottom 5%.

On the other hand, travel and leisure stocks

fell, dragged down by low-cost airline and travel firm Jet2 ( DRTGF )

that lost 14.1% after forecasting full-year operating

profit to be towards the lower-end of its expectations.

Other airlines declined with EasyJet ( EJTTF ) down 3.3%,

while British Airways owner IAG and Wizz Air ( WZZAF )

also fell.

Precious metal miners fell tracking lower

gold prices. Fresnillo fell 1.6%.

Meanwhile, stability returned to bond markets somewhat

following a rout earlier this week when concerns over Britain's

finances and the government's ability to keep them under control

sent yields on 30-year British government bonds, or

gilts, briefly to their highest since 1998.

Investors, however, continue to speculate about tax rises

that could dampen economic growth with Britain set to deliver

its budget on November 26.

On the data-front, activity in Britain's construction

sector slowed for the eighth month in a row in August, extending

its longest downturn since 2020.

A BoE survey showed British firms reported a slight rise in

the year-ahead inflation expectations.

Investors now await July retail sales data due on Friday.