April 10 (Reuters) – The main UK stock indexes rose on Friday, poised for weekly gains, as investors awaited key U.S. inflation reading later in the day and peace talks between U.S. and Iranian officials over the weekend.
The blue-chip FTSE 100 index rose 0.3% by 1140 GMT, on track for its third week of gains in a row. The midcap FTSE 250 jumped 1%, set for its second consecutive week of gains.
* Global stocks were sanguine as traders awaited the outcomeof the U.S.-Iran peace talks set to be held in Pakistan’scapital, Islamabad, on Saturday. * The Strait of Hormuz remained shut on Friday and Israeltraded fire with Hezbollah in Lebanon, which the United Statesand Iran each described as violations of their ceasefire deal. * Stocks rebounded earlier this week as oil prices slidfollowing the announcement of a two-week ceasefire to the MiddleEast conflict, raising expectations of a revival in shippingthrough the strait. * However, the flow of oil from the Gulf remains heavilyrestricted, keeping futures prices near $100 a barrel. * Investor focus was also on U.S. inflation data at 8.30a.m. ET (1230 GMT), expected to show consumer prices likelyrecorded their biggest increase in nearly four years in March. * AO World gained 6.9% after the British electronicsretailer said it expected annual profit at the top end of itsforecast range, after gaining market share across all keycategories in its consumer-focused business. * B&M’s shares fell 3.6% as interim CFO Helen Cowing leftthe British discount retailer after less than five months in thejob, the company said. * Wizz Air surged 9.7% after a Bloomberg report saidUkraine’s top negotiator with Russia saw progress towards apotential peace deal with Russia.
(Reporting by Sruthi Shankar in Bengaluru; Editing by Vijay Kishore)