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The FTSE 100 was up 0.3% to 7,165.62 by midday as investors shrugged off the reopening delay in the UK and as UK jobs numbers impressed.
US futures suggested stocks across the Atlantic would build on yesterday's record highs when trading resumes later.
Pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca said results from its trial assessing its Covid-19 vaccine, AZD7442, didn't meet the primary goal of preventing symptomatic COVID-19 in people recently exposed to the Covid-19 virus. AstraZeneca was up 0.3% to £83.72.
Equipment rental company Ashtead lifted its dividend after reporting a 1% fall in annual profit as a return to revenue growth in the final quarter of the fiscal year, helped soften the pandemic impact. Ashtead gained 2.9% to £52.32.
Homebuilder Bellway reported 'strong' sales demand and said it expected selling price to continue to rise. For the period from 1 February to 6 June 2021, reservations per week increased 51.3% to 239 from 158 last year. Bellway fell 0.6% to £34.59.
Online fashion retail Boohoo reported a jump in revenue in the first quarter of the year, led by strong UK and US growth. Boohoo rose 1.5% to 333.5p.
Digital transformation company Kin and Carta lifted its outlook on annual performance following a strong return to growth amid accelerating demand for digital transformation. Kin and Carta jumped 21.2% to 240p.