Micro Focus nearly doubles in value
British energy bills to rise 80 from October regulator
FTSE 100 up 0.5, FTSE 250 adds 0.6
Both the indexes set for weekly losses

Aug 26 Reuters UK39;s bluechip index rose for a second straight day on Friday on gains in commodities and banking sectors, while shares of software firm Micro Focus nearly doubled after a 6 billion buyout deal.

The FTSE 100 index rose 0.5. The industrial metal and mining index climbed 1.7 as hopes of fresh stimulus in China aided copper and other metal prices.

Still, the main index was heading for weekly losses after data highlighted the impact of surging prices on business activity and central bank policymakers stuck to an aggressive tone on interest rate hikes despite signs of economic slowdown.

British energy bills will rise 80 to an average of 3,549 pounds 4,188 a year from October, said regulator Ofgem, calling it a crisis that needed to be tackled by urgent and decisive government action. 

It39;s what people have been anticipating already, said Oliver Allen, markets economist at Capital Economics.

When we find out who won the Conservative Party leadership election, people might get a bit more of a clue on what the government in the UK is going to give households in terms of assistance with gas prices.

The two candidates, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak, have clashed over how to respond. Their proposals, which include suspending environmental levies or cutting a sales tax, have been dismissed by…