FTSE 100 up 0.1, FTSE 250 off 0.1
Easter food spending lifts UK retail sales in March
BP expects rise in Q1 upstream energy output, shares up

April 9 Reuters The UK39;s FTSE 100 inched up on Tuesday, reversing early losses on gains in commoditylinked stocks, while investors braced for crucial U.S. and UK economic data for clues on the interest rate trajectory.

The commodityheavy FTSE 100 edged up 0.1 by 0812 GMT, while the more domesticallyfocused FTSE 250 slipped 0.1.

Precious metal miners led sectoral advances, climbing 2.4, as gold prices hovered near record high levels, supported by firm central bank buying.

Industrial metal miners followed with a 1.2 rise as prices of metals extended gains amid expectations of a rebound in manufacturing activities globally and prospect of output cuts in China.

Meanwhile, oil and gas rose 1.1 as hopes of a ceasefire waned in the Middle East conflict and supply disruption concerns lifted oil prices.

Investors will keep a close eye on fresh insights into the global interest rate cut outlook this week, tracking U.S. inflation data, the European Central Bank39;s monetary policy meeting and Britain39;s GDP figures.

With every bit of economic data, it feels like those rate cuts just get pushed further and further into the long grass and that is upsetting the applecart somewhat, said Danni Hewson, head of financial analysis at AJ Bell.

UK retail sales grew by the most since August as an early Easter boosted food spending in…