The FTSE 100 enjoyed a positive start as investors braced for the Chancellor’s Spring Budget later today.
A national insurance cut is widely expected to be among Jeremy Hunt’s measures in the budget, which will most likely be his last before the next general election.
Among companies, Legal & General dropped early on after reporting flat operating profit of £1.67 billion for the year, below market expectations.
Also reporting was packing firm DS Smith, which revealed flat like-for-like volumes since November but remained quiet on a potential merger with Mondi.
William Hill owner 888 Holdings climbed meanwhile, on news its lower-margin US business could be sold as part of a strategic review.
And finally, Bitcoin saw another surge this morning after briefly hitting and then declining from a $69,000 all-time high on Tuesday.