FTSE 100 up 0.5, FTSE 250 also adds 0.5
eazyJet jumps on improved winter performance
Hipgnosis Songs Fund surges on 1.4 billion buyout

April 18 Reuters British stocks moved higher on Thursday, boosted by a string of upbeat corporate updates, while investors awaited comments from Bank of England BoE policymaker Megan Greene to gauge the outlook on interest rates.

The resourceheavy FTSE 100 rose 0.5 by 0821 GMT, and the FTSE 250 index snapped its fiveday losing streak to also gain 0.5. The pound appreciated by 0.2 against the dollar.

Hipgnosis Songs Fund surged 31.3 to the top of the midcap index after Concord Chorus said it would acquire the music investor for 1.4 billion.

Its interesting to see the Hipgnosis deal as it supports gradual recovery of animal spirits, MA coming back and IPOs beginning to come back, Ben Laidler, global markets strategist at eToro said.

The chunky 32 valuation premium shines light on how cheap the UK has got to right now and that39;s beginning to attract people to take advantage of those valuations.

Among top movers on the FTSE 100, easyJet shares rose 3.5 after the airline39;s winter performance improved on growing demand and it said summer bookings were building well.

National Grid climbed 2.2, leading gains in the utilities sector, after the energy utility firm upgraded its 202324 profit guidance.

Deliveroo climbed 7 after the meal delivery firm returned to order growth in the first quarter.

In contrast, Dunelm Group was the…