Reuters Londons FTSE 100 rose on Wednesday, led by retailers and travel stocks, while Next Plc was the top gainer after it raised its profit outlook following robust earnings.

The bluechip index jumped 1.7, with Compass Group, International Consolidated Airlines, Whitbread, and AB Foods being among the top gainers. The wider retail subindex added 3.7 and led the climb among sectoral peers.

The domestically focussed midcap index rose 1.6, boosted by a 3.8 climb in travel and leisure stocks. Cineworld, Carnival, SSP Group, and EasyJet added 510.

Shares of the British fashion retailer surged 8.9 after it said it had soundly beaten its expectations for fullprice sales and, as a result, was increasing its profit forecast.

Magic is already being spun by the act of reopening… more journeys, more consumer spend, and a frankly sizzling housing market are adding to the pot, said Danni Hewson, analyst at AJ Bell.

The FTSE 100 has risen 9.5 so far this year, supported by cheap borrowing costs and optimism around economic reopening, although a recent jump in COVID19 cases and higher inflation levels have capped those gains.

A survey showed UKs economic bounceback from lockdowns cooled in June despite a surge in business for the countrys hospitality sector, echoing signs that the recovery has lost some of its pace.

Among other stocks, media group Future jumped 8 and was the top boost to the midcap index after it said it expects its fullyear profitability to be ahead of…