UK's FTSE 100 rebounds as financial, energy stocks gain

Jan 29 (Reuters) - London's blue-chip index ended higher Thursday, led by financial and energy stocks, as investors parsed a mixed bag of corporate results.

The FTSE 100 .FTSE closed up 0.2%, after hitting a record high earlier in the session. Meanwhile, the domestically focused FTSE 250 .FTMC bucked the trend, falling 0.5%.

Investment company 3i Group III.L surged 8.8% to lead the gainers on the FTSE 100 after it delivered a strong third-quarter update. That made the investment banks and brokerages index .FTNMX302020 among the session's top performers, rising 3%.

Banking shares .FTNMX301010 rebounded from Wednesday's losses, and were up 0.5%. Lloyds Banking Group LLOY.L rose 0.1% after the bank reported a better-than-expected 12% rise in annual profit.

Energy stocks .FTNMX601010 also advanced 2.1%, supported by higher oil prices amid rising concerns that a U.S. strike on Iran could disrupt supply. O/R

On the trade front, Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer and China's President Xi Jinping hailed a reset of ties, pledging to build an economic partnership with deals including a major investment by AstraZeneca AZN.L. The pharmaceutical giant's shares were marginally down on the day.

Back in the markets, Antofagasta ANTO.L rose 2.1% after copper scaled a new peak amid a broad metals rally. The industrial metal miners index .FTNMX551020 climbed 1% to its highest level in one year.

Wall Street's indexes hit a one-week low as another wave of hefty AI spending from U.S. Big Tech rattled investors.

Among other UK stocks, Wizz Air WIZZ.L rose 11% after the budget carrier posted a smaller-than-expected third-quarter loss.