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* FTSE 100 up 0.5%, FTSE 250 adds 0.6%
March 8 (Reuters) - British shares rose on Monday, boosted by gains in mining and energy stocks on higher commodity prices, while the easing of a stringent lockdown also lifted sentiment.
The blue-chip FTSE 100 index .FTSE rose 0.5%, with mining stocks, including Rio Tinto RIO.L , Anglo American AAL.L and BHP BHPB.L , gaining between 0.9% and 1.2%.
Oil producers BP BP.L and Royal Dutch Shell RDSa.L were also among the biggest gainers on the index as crude oil prices surged. O/R
The reopening of England's schools to all pupils on Monday will mark the first step back towards normality and is only possible because of the efforts of the public to bring COVID-19 infection rates down, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said. domestically focused mid-cap FTSE 250 index .FTMC rose 0.6%, led by consumer discretionary stocks.
Senior Plc SNR.L rose 1.8%, even as the British aircraft parts supplier swung to an annual loss, hit by COVID-19-related disruptions to flight travel and Boeing (NYSE:BA)'s BA.N 737 MAX crisis. insurer Phoenix PHNX.L gained 1.8%, after posting a 48% rise in annual operating profit, helped by its purchase of Swiss Re 's SRENH.S British business ReAssure last year.