UK shares climb higher; Ferguson advances

London's FTSE 100 edged higher on Tuesday, starting the quarter on an upbeat note after a rebound in oil stocks and a rise in plumbing parts distributor Ferguson following its annual results. The blue-chip index added 0.3% and the FTSE 250 gained 0.2% by 0705 GMT, partly helped by hopes that the final quarter of the year would bring resolution to the U.S.-China dispute as well as the protracted Brexit process.

The main index was also supported by a 2.2% gain in Ferguson after the company posted a better-than-expected rise in full-year profit. Oil majors Shell and BP bounced back after trading lower in the previous session.

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