Markets awaited services sector data on Wednesday, expected to stabilize in March after months of increasing prices and slow economic growth.
By 0707 GMT, the blue-chip FTSE 100 (.FTSE) rose 0.1%, while the domestic-focused FTSE 250 (.FTMC) fell 0.1%.
Reuters experts predict U.K. services sector growth to match February’s in March.
British manufacturers slid deeper into recession in March but were more upbeat this week as cost limitations and supply chain concerns improved.
Watch U.S. private jobs numbers later. Wall Street slumped on Tuesday as February job openings fell to the lowest level in nearly two years, stoking recession worries.
Citigroup upgraded Direct Line (DLGD.L).
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