"June's industrial figures suggest that the drop in GDP in the second quarter is likely to be revised to a slightly smaller fall"
- Samuel Tombs, an analyst at Capital Economics research group
The U.K. industrial sector contracted less than economists forecast in June, adding to hopes the economic growth in the second quarter could be revised upwards. Industrial output declined 2.5 per cent, said the Office for National Statistics on Wednesday.
"June's industrial figures suggest that the drop in GDP in the second quarter is likely to be revised to a slightly smaller fall," said Samuel Tombs, an analyst at Capital Economics research group.
"But the figures did not change the overall picture of a sector struggling to grow in response to rapidly weakening overseas demand," Mr Tombs added.
The FTSE 100 Index rose 0.56 per cent, or 32.47 points to 5,841.24. The broader FTSE All-Share Index gained 0.51 per cent.
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