(Reuters) -London stocks rose on Thursday, boosted by industrials and energy stocks, while investors assessed corporate earnings and awaited a key inflation report from the U.S. due later in the day.

The blue-chip FTSE 100 advanced 0.4% by 0956 GMT, while the domestically focussed mid-cap index also added 0.4%.

In the U.S., consumer inflation data is expected on the day. Economists expect prices to have picked up in August, but that is unlikely to derail a much-anticipated rate cut from the Federal Reserve next week.

Aerospace and defence companies added 1.6% on Thursday; BAE Systems rose 4%, Chemring Group up 2%, Babcock gained 1.4% and Avon added 5.2%.

Precious metal miners advanced 0.9% with Fresnillo rising 2% and Hochschild Mining up 1.7%.

Energy stocks gained 0.6% with heavyweig

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