UK service firms report second month of growth PMI
Wood Group climbs after Apollo sweetens bid
Defensive stocks boost FTSE 100
FTSE 100 up 0.3, FTSE 250 off 0.2

April 5 Reuters UK39;s benchmark FTSE 100 rose on Wednesday after data showed the dominant service sector in March reported the strongest new business expansion in a year, although worries about a slowdown in the U.S. economy tempered the mood.

The bluechip FTSE 100 rose 0.3, outperforming the broader European markets as defensive sectors such as pharmaceuticals and consumer staples rose.

Adding to signs of recovery in the economy, the final reading of the SP GlobalCIPS UK Services Purchasing Managers39; Index PMI of 52.9 was below February39;s 53.5 but above the 50 mark denoting growth for a second month in a row.

However, U.S. stock futures slipped after data on Tuesday showed U.S. job openings in February dropped to the lowest level in nearly two years, fuelling concerns about a potential recession.

Figures on job openings and factory orders are pointing towards a potential recession for the world39;s largest economy, but the upside might be a pause in interest rates which would typically be a positive for stocks, said Danni Hewson, head of financial analysis at AJ Bell.

U.S. private jobs data due later in the day could offer clues on when the Fed will hit pause on its monetary tightening cycle.

Meanwhile, Bank of England Chief Economist Huw Pill said on Tuesday the central bank still cannot be…