London stocks had extended gains by midday on Wednesday despite uninspiring Chinese factory data, grim UK shop price inflation and a bleak survey on service sector confidence.
The FTSE 100 was up 0.6% at 7,555.83.
Figures released earlier by the National Bureau of Statistics showed that China’s manufacturing activity shrank faster than expected in November as Covid restrictions took their toll.
The purchasing managers’ index for the sector fell to 48.0 from 49.2 in October, coming in below consensus expectations of 49.0. A reading above 50.0 indicates growth, while a reading below signals contraction.
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