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FTSE 100 up 1.7%; FTSE 250 up 1%

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UK inflation falls to 3.2%, boosting rate cut bets

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FTSE 350 Banks index at highest level since 2008

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Serco ( SECCF ) jumps after profit forecast beats market estimates

Dec 17 (Reuters) - The UK's stock market indexes

rebounded on Wednesday, led by gains in heavyweight banks, as

lower-than-expected domestic inflation reinforced expectations

that the Bank of England will cut interest rates.

The UK's blue-chip FTSE 100 rose 1.7% by 1032 GMT -

on pace for its best day since April 14. Sharp declines in

energy and defence stocks had pushed the benchmark index lower

on Tuesday.

The midcap FTSE 250 index added 1% to hit a

near-seven-week high.

British inflation fell sharper than expected to 3.2% in

November from 3.6% in October, its lowest level since March,

amplifying hopes of a rate cut by the BoE on Thursday.

The surprise decline, driven by lower food prices and Black

Friday discounts, sent the sterling lower and increased odds of

more rate cuts in 2026.

The FTSE 350 index tracking banks led gains,

up 2.9%, the highest level since 2008. HSBC Holdings ( HSBC )

was up 3.8%, with traders pointing to a brokerage upgrade.

Standard Chartered ( SCBFF ) and Barclays ( BCS ) added 2.2% and

2.3% respectively.

Energy stocks jumped 2.5% after a sharp

decline in the previous session, buoyed by soaring oil prices

after U.S. President Donald Trump ordered a complete blockade of

all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela.

Industrial metal miners surged 2.4%.

The day's moves kept the FTSE 100 on track for its best year

since 2009, climbing 20.5% year-to-date and outpacing Wall

Street's benchmark S&P 500 index, which has risen 15.6%

this year.

Among individual stocks, outsourcing firm Serco's ( SECCF )

shares jumped 5.6% to surpass a decade high after the company

forecasted profit above analyst expectations for this year and

the next.

Business supplies distributor Bunzl ( BZLFF ) lost 2.8%,

becoming the top loser on the FTSE 100 index, after the company

forecast a slight year-on-year drop in its 2026 operating

margin.