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* FTSE 100 up 1%, FTSE 250 adds 0.2%
April 22 (Reuters) - Britain's top equity index rose on
Wednesday, as positive corporate updates helped calm the mood
after a sharp selloff in the previous session driven by plunging
oil prices.
The blue-chip FTSE 100 index .FTSE advanced 1% by 0723
GMT, while domestically oriented midcap shares .FTMC rose
0.2%.
Markets globally took a breather after this week's wild
swings in oil prices even as Brent crude LCOc1 - Europe's oil
benchmark - tumbled to its lowest since 1999 due to plunging
demand in the wake of the coronavirus crisis. O/R
A recovery in banks stocks aided, while shares in Irish
building group CRH CRH.L CRH.I jumped 4.7% as it expects to
benefit from economic measures to mitigate the hit from the
outbreak. Online fashion retailer Boohoo BOOH.L rose 3.1% after it
said its performance recovered in recent weeks even as sales
growth dipped in the middle of March due to lockdowns.