(Reuters) - UK shares were pushed higher on Tuesday by Asia-focussed financials that rose after China's surprise cut to a key lending rate and as general election hopes remained, while blue-chip Halma surged 7%.
The FTSE 100 <.FTSE> added 0.5% by 0814 GMT, led by safety equipment maker Halma <HLMA.L> after an upbeat half-year report, while the FTSE 250 <.FTMC> held at a 14-month high hit in the prior session on optimism ahead of the UK election.
The midcaps also rose 0.5% with Cobham <COB.L> gaining 4% after the British government said it is minded to allow Advent's purchase of the UK-listed firm.
Lights manufacturer Dialight <DIAL.L> plunged 20.4% to its lowest in nearly a decade on the small-cap index after it warned on profit due to the U.S.-China trade war.
(Reporting by Muvija M in Bengaluru; Editing by Bernard Orr)
