Shell up after forecasting stronger LNG volumes
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FTSE 100 up 1.0, FTSE 250 adds 1.1

April 6 Reuters UK39;s bluechip index rose on Thursday, gaining for a third consecutive week, as a rally in commodity stocks and signs of resilience in the domestic economy outweighed concerns about a U.S. economic slowdown.

The FTSE 100 rose 1.0, hitting its highest level in over three weeks and ending the holidayshortened week about 1.4 higher, with support from gains in oil and gas, financial and healthcare stocks.

Heavyweight Shell rose 2.3 as the energy giant forecast higher liquefied natural gas LNG output in the first quarter.

Banks rose 1.5, with lender HSBC Plc39;s 1.6 gain offering the biggest boost.

Markets are getting more relaxed about where interest rates might peak, and a number of sectorspecific factors is helping the UK, particularly the banks recovering and the oils stocks seeing profit upgrades, said Andrew Bell, chief executive at Witan Investment Trust.

Wall Street39;s main indexes, however, fell as the latest labour market data pointed to slowing economic growth due to rapid interest rate hikes. U.S. monthly payrolls data will be released on Friday when most major markets will be closed for Good Friday.

The midcap FTSE 250 index rose 1.1, with Londonlisted shares of travel firm TUI leading gains with its 12.0 rise after CEO Sebastian Ebel said summer 2023 travel…