FTSE 100 gains as pound dips on rising election chances

London's main index rose for a fifth straight session on Tuesday as weakness in sterling due to the growing risks of an election brought gains for some internationally-focused stocks, while inkjet technology firm Xaar tanked after warning on results.

The FTSE 100 was up 0.2%, outperforming its European peers and Asian markets that were bogged down by the U.S.-China trade tensions, and the FTSE 250 midcap index also rose by the same measure by 0710 GMT. Plumbing products company Ferguson climbed 3%, taking the top spot on the main index, after saying it would separate its UK operations.

Among results-driven moves, Restaurant Group tumbled 7% to the bottom of the FTSE 250 after posting a loss versus a year-ago profit, while small-cap XAAR plunged 29% to a 10-year low after warning on annual results.

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