FTSE 100 up 0.6, FTSE 250 adds 0.3
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Dec 27 Reuters British equities moved higher on Wednesday led by a rise in metal miners, while investors latched on to the yearend optimism that major central banks including the Bank of England could begin cutting interest rates in the upcoming year.

By 938 GMT, the bluechip FTSE 100 rose 0.6 and FTSE 250 midcap index was up 0.3, touching its highest level since March 2023.

Precious metal miners moved 1.2 higher, mainly supported by expectations of interest rate cuts in the U.S. next year.

Shares in industrial metal miners added 1.3, leading sectoral gains, as prices of most base metals rose after data showed manufacturing activity in top consumer China improved last month, while a weak U.S. dollar also lent support to the market.

The Chinese government is now boosting the industrial side of the things, reverting back from their focus on consumers because that39;s obviously not working well, said Ipek Ozkardeskaya, senior market analyst at Swissquote Bank.

But the truth of the matter is they are not necessarily on the investor side, they do have their own agenda.

The automobile and parts sector was the biggest outlier, slipping 0.3.

The FTSE 100 is set to end the year on a higher note, driven by expectations that the Fed…