UK's FTSE 100 rose for a third consecutive session on Monday as investors awaited fiscal plans from new finance minister Jeremy Hunt after a dramatic loss of confidence among market players in Prime Minister Liz Truss's government.
The blue-chip FTSE 100 index (.FTSE) gained 0.3% by 0714 GMT, while the domestically focussed FTSE 250 index (.FTMC) climbed 0.7%.
The pound jumped 1% against the dollar as investors waited for Hunt's announcement, which comes two weeks ahead of schedule and is expected to include plans to raise taxes and spend lesser than previously planned.
UK stocks ended higher on Friday as Truss signalled a U-turn in part of the government's large unfunded tax cuts that had roiled financial markets, and replaced Kwasi Kwarteng with Hunt.
Among single stocks, Hargreaves Lansdown (HRGV.L) fell 2.6% after the investment platform said Chief Executive Officer Chris Hill would step down, a day after the company was hit by a multi-million pound lawsuit. ITV (ITV.L) gained 5.8% after the Financial Times reported the commercial broadcaster was reviewing the future of its production arm ITV studios, including whether to sell a stake
