Industrials, financials lead UK shares higher; Ashtead Group jumps

UK shares edged higher on Thursday, lifted by industrials and financial stocks, while Ashtead Group jumped to the top of FTSE 100 index following a strong earnings update. The blue-chip index rose 0.4%, with drugmaker AstraZeneca's 0.9% gain providing the biggest boost. Rental equipment provider Ashtead jumped 3% after forecasting annual results above its earlier expectations.

UK shares edged higher on Thursday, lifted by industrials and financial stocks, while Ashtead Group jumped to the top of FTSE 100 index following a strong earnings update. The blue-chip index rose 0.4%, with drugmaker AstraZeneca's 0.9% gain providing the biggest boost.

Rental equipment provider Ashtead jumped 3% after forecasting annual results above its earlier expectations. Aero and defence stocks and life insurers added 1.3% and 0.7%, respectively.

The domestically focused mid-cap FTSE 250 index advanced 0.4%, rebounding from a 1.1% fall in the previous session. IG Group Holdings Plc jumped 4.9% even after the online trading platform reported a 4% drop in adjusted first-quarter revenue.