(Il Sole 24 Ore Radiocor) - London, 13 Aug - Shares in London closed higher, extending recent gains, as markets cheered lighter-than-expected US inflation data ahead of tomorrow's key US consumer price report. UK inflation data is also due on Wednesday, the first reading since the Bank of England cut interest rates by 25 basis points.

Economists polled by Reuters expect the headline rate to tick higher to 2.3%, up from 2% over the past two months.

Meanwhile, UK wage data released today showed that between April and June pay excluding bonuses grew 5.4% year-on-year at the lowest rate in two years.

The UK's unemployment rate fell to 4.2% from 4.4%. Economists polled by Reuters had expected an increase of 4.5%.

The London FTSE 100 closed up 0.30% at 8,235.23 points.

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(RADIOCOR) 13-08-24 18:15:07 (0464) 5 NNNN