(Updates after market close)

June 30 (Reuters) - The UK's blue-chip FTSE 100 inched

higher on Tuesday, led by gains in defence and financial stocks,

notching gains for a sixth consecutive quarter as optimism

surrounding a ceasefire in the Middle East lifted sentiment.

The internationally focused FTSE 100 index rose

0.1%, while the midcap FTSE 250 was flat. The blue-chip

index gained in 11 of the last 12 months, with March being the

only exception, as global markets roiled after the U.S. and

Israel launched a war on Iran.

* The FTSE 250 posted its biggest quarterly rise in five

quarters but a monthly loss as politics took centre stage after

Keir Starmer resigned as prime minister.

* Banks added 0.8% and were up 20% for the

quarter. Lloyds and Natwest ( NWG ) gained 2.1% and

1.6%, respectively.

* Aerospace and defence stocks rose 2.1%

after Starmer unveiled an extra £15 billion ($20 billion) to

modernise Britain's depleted armed forces. Rolls-Royce,

BAE Systems, Melrose Industries and Babcock

were up between 2% and 3.3%.

* Industrial metal miners rose 1%, tracking

metal prices, while precious metal miners lost

1.5%.

* Economic data showed that Britain's economy grew 0.6% in

the first quarter, but households felt a squeeze before the

price pressures of the Middle East conflict.

* A Lloyds survey showed that UK businesses' confidence

about the economic outlook fell this month as cost pressures and

global uncertainty continued to hurt.

* The UK's biggest housebuilders are facing a potential

multi-billion-pound class action lawsuit over alleged

anti-competitive conduct, according to a consumer claim. The

home construction index lagged on the FTSE 100

with a 1.6% decline, while Persimmon, Barratt Redrow ( BTDPF )

and Taylor Wimpey fell between 1% and 3%.

* Among individual movers, supermarket group Sainsbury's ( JSNSF )

rose 1.3% after first-quarter results but said it

expects the Middle East conflict to add to food inflation.

* British holiday and insurance group Saga shares

gained 6.7% after first-half cruise bookings topped

expectations.

* The UK car lobby group warned electric vehicle makers will

have to pay £1.4 billion ($1.85 billion) in tariffs if there is

no solution on local content requirements with the European

Union. The automobiles index shed 2.3%.