FTSE 100 edges up ahead of U.K., U.S. inflation figures

The blue-chip FTSE 100 index was 0.3% higher, while the mid-cap FTSE 250 index gained 0.1%

London's FTSE 100 edged up on Tuesday amid wider gains in the run-up to key inflation figures in the US and the UK, while cart parts supplier Dowlais Group lagged the mid-caps.

The blue-chip FTSE 100 index was 0.3% higher, while the mid-cap FTSE 250 index gained 0.1% by 0712 GMT.

The indexes were set to extend their rally for a third successive session after ending lower for a second consecutive week on Friday.

Pharma, biotech and industrial support services led wider gains in London with a 0.7% gain each.

Most sectors trended upwards, while automobile and parts lead declines, pulled down by a 10.2% decline in Dowlais Group.

The firm declined to the bottom of the FTSE 250 after it said it was exploring a potential sale of its GKN Powder Metallurgy unit, among other options, and cut its annual revenue forecast.

The sectoral index declined to its lowest level since early 2009.

Industrial metal miners slipped 0.5% on easing copper prices as investors turned to profit-taking.

Meanwhile, figures out of the UK showed a slowdown in average earnings growth and an unexpected fall in the unemployment rate, pushing the pound up against the dollar.

The further easing in wage growth will be welcomed by the Bank of England as a sign that labour market conditions are continuing to cool, but we think it will pause in September, said Ruth Gregory, deputy chief UK economist at Capital Economics in a note.

Investor focus has returned to a slew of economic data this week in the U.S. and in the U.K., after weak data stoked recessionary concerns in the U.S. and had, in part, triggered an equity sell-off last week.