UK's FTSE 100 edged higher on Monday, supported by a strong performance by industrial technology firm Smiths Group, even as investors maintained a cautious stance ahead of U.S. inflation data that should give clues on the future policy path.
The blue-chip FTSE 100 (.FTSE) was up 0.2% by 0812 GMT, hovering close to its record-high levels scaled last week.
Shares of Smiths (SMIN.L) rose 1.6% after Goldman Sachs initiated coverage with a "buy" rating.
The more domestically focussed FTSE 250 midcaps (.FTMC) dipped 0.1%.
One of the bigger catalysts for markets this week would be the U.S. CPI data due on Tuesday, while the UK inflation data will be released later this week.
Lifting sentiment, a survey showed British employers expect to raise wages for their staff by the most in at least 11 years.
