The internationally focussed FTSE 100 edged 0.1% higher.

The materials sector, which houses miners such as Rio Tinto, were the top gainers with a 1.2% jump as iron ore and copper prices advanced.

Data showed British headline inflation dropped further away from a four-decade peak of 11.1% in October, and is expected to drop to 5% by the end of 2023. But, policymakers are worried that a tight job market would make the journey to lower inflation more painful.

The domestically oriented FTSE 250 added 0.2%.

Shares of Currys rose 2.7% after the retailer retained its recently downgraded full-year financial forecast though it noted further deterioration in trading at its Nordics business during Christmas.

(Reporting by Johann M Cherian in Bengaluru; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips)