(For a Reuters live blog on U.S., UK and European stock markets, click LIVE/ or type LIVE/ in a news window) * Defensive sectors boost FTSE 100 * Sage gains as its first-half profit meets expectations * FTSE 100 up 2.6%, FTSE 250 adds 2.3% (Updates to close) By Bansari Mayur Kamdar and Amal S May 13 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 rallied on Friday to erase weekly losses, aided by gains in defensive stocks, although concerns over stubborn inflation and economic slowdown kept sentiment in check. The blue-chip FTSE 100.FTSE added 2.6%, while the domestically focused mid-cap index.FTMC advanced 2.3% and ended the week about 0.5% higher. Banks and defensive sectors including consumer staples and healthcare stocks that tend to be less sensitive to the economic climate boosted the benchmark index. Banks.FTNMX301010 gained 3.1%, recouping their previous session's losses, while pharmaceutical giants such as AstraZenecaAZN.L and GlaxoSmithKlineGSK.L and cyclical names DiageoDGE.L , UnileverULVR.L rose between 1.5% and 2.7%. "Healthcare is seen as a more defensive sector, certainly with the ongoing pandemic. The demand for healthcare isn't going to go away, so you're seeing resilience there," said Susannah Streeter, senior investment and markets analyst, Hargreaves Lansdown. Oil majors ShellSHEL.L and BPBP.L gained 2.8% and 3.6% respectively, tracking a rebound in crude prices.O/R After falling as much as 2.9%, the benchmark index recouped losses towards the end of a volatile week to end about 0.4% higher, as a relief rally led by the defensive stocks offset weakness in resource-linked shares amid recession fears and demand concerns. Tension between Britain and the European Union over post-Brexit trade rules for Northern Ireland also added to investor woes.urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL2N2X50AD "There is concern that if there isn't some kind of deal reached, there could be a fresh trade spat emerging between the EU and the UK that could lead to a further increase in prices," said Streeter. Sage GroupSGE.L rose 3.9%, after the software company's first-half profit met market estimates and said its margin was expected to trend higher in the second half and beyond.urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nASM000BOQ (Reporting by Bansari Mayur Kamdar and Amal S in Bengaluru; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips, Rashmi Aich and Alison Williams) ((amal.s@thomsonreuters.com;)) (( For related prices, Reuters users may click on - * UK stock report.L FTSE index:0#.FTS6 techMARK 100 index:.FTT1X FTSE futures:0#FFI: Gilt futures:0#FLG: Smallcap index:.FTSC FTSE 250 index:.FTMC FTSE 350 index:.FTLC Market digest:.AD.L Top 10 by vol:.AV.L Top price gainers:.NG.L Top % gainers:.PG.L Top price losers:.NL.L Top % losers:.PL.L * For related news, click on - * UK hot stocks:HOT andGB Wall Street:.N Gilts report:GB/ Euro bond reportGVD/EUR Pan European stock report:.EU Tokyo stocks:.T HK stocks:.HK Sterling report:GBP/ Dollar report:USD/ * For company prices, click on - * Company directory:UKEQ By sector:FTAX * For pan-European market data, click on - * European Equities speed guide................EUR/EQUITY FTSE Eurotop 300 index............................FTEU3 DJ STOXX index....................................STOXX Top 10 STOXX sectors.........................PGL.STOXXS Top 10 EUROSTOXX sectors....................PGL.STOXXES Top 10 Eurotop 300 sectors...................PGL.FTEU3S Top 25 European pct gainers.....................PG.PEUR Top 25 European pct losers......................PL.PEUR ))

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