By Utkarsh Hathi

(Reuters) -London’s export-focused FTSE 100 rose to a new intraday record peak on Tuesday, buoyed by a weakening pound after economic data revealed rising unemployment and slowing wage growth, while drugmaker AstraZeneca climbed to an all-time high.

The blue-chip FTSE 100 index rose 0.8% by 1210 GMT, building on its record close posted in the previous session.

Meanwhile, the mid-cap FTSE 250 gained 0.5%.

AstraZeneca rose 1.7% to surpass its September 2024 peak and solidify the company’s position as the UK’s largest listed stock by market value, driven by momentum from last week’s forecast-beating quarterly results.

Meanwhile, the UK labour market showed clear signs of cooling, with unemployment increasing to 5%, the highest in four years, while wage growth continued t

See Full Page