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FTSE 100 rises 0.5%, FTSE 250 up 0.2%

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

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JD Sports falls on seeing annual profit at lower end of

forecast

Nov 20 (Reuters) - London's main stock indexes rose on

Thursday and looked set to break their losing streak, as defence

and financial shares led a recovery amid a global rally sparked

by AI bellwether Nvidia's upbeat forecast.

The blue-chip FTSE 100 climbed 0.5% as of 11:45 GMT,

on track to halt a five-day decline. The domestically focused

FTSE 250 rose 0.2% and was set to snap a six-day losing

run.

The aerospace and defence sector rebounded

2.7% after a setback in the previous session. Industry

heavyweights Rolls-Royce and BAE Systems both

gained over 2.5%.

A relief rally swept through global equity markets after

chip bellwether Nvidia's upbeat forecast quelled some concerns

over elevated valuations following analysts' caution recently

that the AI boom may be outpacing fundamentals.

The European technology index climbed 0.8%, while

technology stocks in London also added 0.4%.

Moreover, UK's investment banking stocks and

life insurers gained 1% and 0.8%, respectively.

Pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca ( AZN ) advanced about 1%

after its drug to control growth of non-cancerous tumours was

approved in the U.S., pushing the pharma sector

up 0.5%.

Halma jumped 12.4% 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

11.2%, hitting a record high on strong half-year forecast.

Market attention now shifts to the delayed U.S. jobs report,

which will provide fresh insights into the health of the U.S.

economy following the resolution of the recent government

shutdown.

Additionally, Friday's UK retail sales figures will also be

on investors' radar to gauge the nation's economic health, after

this week's data showed inflation easing for the first time in

five months.

Among other movers, Johnson Matthey ( JMPLF ) shares fell 5%

after the chemicals company said that finance chief Richard Pike

will take on a new role as chief operating officer.

Sportswear retailer JD Sports fell 3% after

forecasting annual profit at the lower end of market

expectations.