For a Reuters live blog on U.S., UK and European stock markets, click LIVE/ or type LIVE/ in a news window
FTSE 100 up 0.2%, FTSE 250 gain 0.1%
Industrial metal miners rise tracking higher copper prices
Investors expect tax hikes in budget
Nov 25 (Reuters) - UK stocks edged higher in choppy trading on Tuesday as investors awaited a highly anticipated budget this week which is expected to include significant tax measures, while key U.S. economic data was also in focus.
The blue-chip FTSE 100 .FTSE edged higher 0.2% as of 10:50 GMT, while the FTSE 250 index of domestically oriented UK firms .FTMC rose 0.1%.
Among sectors, non-life insurers .FTNMX303020 fell 3.3% after speciality insurer Beazley BEZG.L plunged 9.4% after the company cut its annual insurance written premiums forecast.
The travel and leisure sector .FTNMX405010 lost 1% with cruise operator Carnival CCL.L falling 5.5%.
Banks .FTNMX301010 gained 0.3% after a Goldman Sachs note referred to a Financial Times article that the sector would be spared from taxes. Lloyds Banking LLOY.L rose 1.8%, Barclays BARC.L added 1.1% and NatWest Group NWG.L climbed 1.4%.
Industrial metal miners .FTNMX551020 gained the most, rising 1.1%, after copper and iron ore prices increased. Antofagasta ANTO.L rose 2.7%, while Anglo American AAL.L added 2.2%.
Personal goods .FTNMX402040 added 1.1% with Burberry BRBY.L up 1.6%.
Retailers .FTNMX404010 added 1%, with Kingfisher KGF.L climbing 4.7% after the home improvement retailer raised its annual profit forecast.
Among other moves, food catering firm Compass Group CPG.L shares fell 2.7% after the company forecast profit growth and organic revenue growth for 2026 roughly in line with expectations.
Domino's Pizza Group DOM.L lost 3.6% after CEO Andrew Rennie stepped down, marking another senior departure as the company shifts strategy to tackle weak sales and rising costs.
AO World AO.L rose 5.9% after the company raised its annual profit forecast for the second time in three months.
Investors are awaiting Wednesday's UK budget announcement from Finance Minister Rachel Reeves, following mixed signals on potential tax hikes.
The government now appears unlikely to raise income tax but is expected to target increases in several other levies.
Markets also await the release of a producer inflation report and retail sales figures in the U.S., among the first major datasets to be released following the longest-ever government shutdown.
(Reporting by Utkarsh Tushar Hathi; Editing by Shreya Biswas)
((utkarshtushar.hathi@thomsonreuters.com))