London shares cling to gains on trade optimism despite mixed signals

London's FTSE 100 inched up on Thursday, as investors hoped for a U.S.-China trade deal despite mixed media reports on where the two countries stand, while investment platform Hargreaves Lansdown led gains after a strong trading update. The FTSE 100 index was up 0.2% by 0707 GMT. The FTSE 250 added 0.3%, though a 6.2% slide in Homewares retailer Dunelm after third-quarter results limited gains.

A report that the U.S. was mulling a currency agreement with China as part of a partial deal that could see a planned tariff hike next week being cancelled offered some respite to markets, though a separate report said there was lack of progress in deputy-level talks held this week. Among blue chips, Hargreaves Lansdown climbed 2.4% after reporting a rise in total assets and luxury brand Burberry added nearly 2% following French rival LVMH's robust quarterly results despite the Hong Kong protests.