Britain's main stock index rises for fifth straight day

Gains by oil majors and optimism that a Brexit delay would help avert a disruptive no-deal departure helped Britain's main stock index rose for a fifth straight day, while Frankie & Benny's owner, Restaurant Group, advanced on strong earnings. The FTSE 100 advanced 0.5 per cent and the FTSE 250 was 0.3 per cent higher by 0826 GMT.

Britain's parliament approved asking the European Union for a short delay if lawmakers can agree on a Brexit deal by March 20, or a longer delay if nothing can be agreed in time. "This means that for now the prime minister has managed to retain control of the Brexit process and can resurrect her rather battered withdrawal agreement for another vote," said CMC Markets analyst Michael Hewson.

Shell and BP added 1 per cent to the main index after U.S. crude prices rose to their highest this year. Production cuts and U.S. sanctions against Venezuela and Iran helped boost prices. A weak pound lent support to dollar earners as Prime Minister Theresa May prepared to try again to win approval for her proposed Brexit deal. Diageo, the world's largest spirits company, GlaxoSmithKline and Unilever all gained.

On the FTSE 250, Restaurant Group shares surged 12.2 per cent - their biggest rise in two years - after saying like-for-like sales rose 2.8 per cent in the 10 weeks to March 10. Interserve shares gained 15.8 per cent after slumping as much as 8 per cent, before a shareholder meeting on whether to accept a rescue deal or let the troubled outsourcer fall into administration.

Bakkavor slipped 6.5 percent as Berenberg cut its rating and said it believes UK food manufacturers are "not as tasty as they look" with shoppers spending more cautiously.