FTSE 100 up 0.2, FTSE 250 adds 0.1
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UK39;s unemployment and CPI data due this week

Oct 16 Reuters UK39;s FTSE 100 opened the week slightly higher on Monday, helped by a boost in commoditylinked stocks amid concerns around an escalation of the conflict in the Middle East.

The bluechip FTSE 100 inched up 0.2 by 0839 GMT, while the midcap index edged up 0.1.

Asian equities slid and the safehaven dollar was firm amid heightened anxiety over the escalating violence in Gaza and prospects that the conflict could spread beyond Israel and Hamas into the wider region.

Crude oil prices edged slightly lower, but held above 90 a barrel, after surging nearly 6 on Friday. Energy stocks  rose 1.0.

Industrial metal miners jumped 1.3 as copper prices climbed bolstered by demand from top consumer China.

Investors will keenly watch the September data on UK39;s unemployment rate on Tuesday, followed by the key inflation numbers on Wednesday.

UK39;s consumer price index CPI is expected to rise to 0.4 in September from 0.3 in August, but fall to 6.5 from 6.7 on an annual basis, according to economists polled by Reuters.

Key labour and CPI figures coming tomorrow and Wednesday may well continue to point to monetary policy needing to remain tight despite the disappointing growth numbers we saw last week, said Stuart Cole, chief macro economist at Equiti Capital.

So even if we saw some pickup in…