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FTSE 100 up 0.2%, FTSE 250 up 0.9%

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Rolls-Royce soars to record high after raising profit

forecast

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Shell jumps after Q2 profit beats expectations

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Canada's Brookfield to buy UK's Just Group for $3.2

billion

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Mondi ( MNODF ) falls on lower first-half profit

July 31 (Reuters) - London's main stock indexes rose on

Thursday, boosted by positive corporate updates from

heavyweights such as Rolls-Royce, while investors assessed a

blitz of tariff announcements.

The internationally oriented FTSE 100 gained 0.2% as

of 0928 GMT, and was on track to log a monthly gain, boosted by

hopes of a Bank of England rate cut and optimism over the

UK-U.S. trade deal.

The domestically focused midcap FTSE 250 index rose

0.9%.

The aerospace and defence index led the

sectoral gains, up 5.7%, boosted by Rolls-Royce that hit

a record high and was last up 9.2% after raising its full-year

operating profit and free cash flow outlook.

Ahead of the August 1 deadline, U.S. President Donald Trump

released fresh levies ranging from updates on copper tariffs,

goods from Brazil, South Korea and India, as well as ending

exemptions for small-value overseas shipments.

Industrial miners led the sectoral decline,

down 4.3%, tracking lower copper prices.

Glencore ( GLCNF ) lost 4.3%, Anglo American down

4.8%, Antofagasta ( ANFGF ) dropped 5.7% and Rio Tinto

fell 4.1%.

Among corporate updates, Rentokil soared 9.6% after

the pest control company kept its full-year outlook unchanged

and posted half-yearly revenue growth of 3.1%.

St James's Place rose 7% after the wealth manager's

half-yearly net inflows doubled and it also launched a new share

buyback.

Shell's second-quarter net profit tumbled by almost

a third, but exceeded analysts' forecasts. Shares of the oil

major rose 1.9%.

Just Group surged 67.8% to top the FTSE 250 midcap

index, after Canada's Brookfield Wealth Solutions ( BNT ) agreed

to acquire the insurer for 2.4 billion pounds ($3.18 billion).

Mondi ( MNODF ) fell 5.8% after the packaging firm posted a

near 17% fall in first-half pretax profit.

London Stock Exchange Group ( LDNXF ) fell 3.7% despite

reporting better-than-expected first-half profit and announcing

a share buyback for the second half.

Next week, the Bank of England is expected to cut borrowing

costs for the fifth time since last August.