HSBC pushes UK's FTSE 100 to 5th day of gains
* FTSE 100 rises 0.5 percent, up for fifth day of gains
* HSBC advances on results but Barclays slips * Imperial Tobacco gains after results, Vodafone loses
By Simon Falush
LONDON, Nov 10 (Reuters) - Gains in HSBC (HSBA.L) after strong third-quarter results outweighed weakness in Vodafone (VOD.L) as its results disappointed, pushing Britain's FTSE 100 up for the fifth straight session on Tuesday.
By 0914 GMT, Britain's top share index .FTSE was 27.0 points or 0.5 percent higher at 5,262.18, hitting its highest in two weeks after it gained 1.8 percent the previous session.
It is up 51.9 percent since touching a six-year trough in March.
In its third-quarter results, banking heavyweight HSBC said its global banking and markets division is having a record year and that losses on consumer loans had shown their first fall in three years, lifted its shares 3.2 percent.
The market was also boosted by strong gains on Wall Street the previous session, in which the Dow Jones industrials average .DJI rose to its highest in 13 months.
"The bank numbers were decent and there's a general view that this is a positive for the market ... and the gains from the U.S. are also lifting the market," said Peter Dixon, economist at Commerzbank.
But Barclays (BARC.L) shares fell 2.1 percent, reversing gains the previous day. The bank said strong investment banking powered a 1.56 billion pound ($2.6 billion) profit in the third quarter, helping offset a big bad debt charge as the bank restarted paying dividends.
Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS.L) added 3.2 percent.
Economic news suggested Britain is moving steadily out of recession, also boosting sentiment on the equity market.
House prices in England and Wales rose last month at their strongest rate in almost three years, buoyed by tight supply and record low interest rates, a survey showed. [ID:nLAG005910]
Another poll showed UK retail sales values rose last month at their fastest annual pace since April to notch up their best October showing in seven years. [ID:nLAG005909]
Imperial Tobacco (IMT.L) gained 3.7 percent after it beat forecasts with an 18 percent rise in full-year earnings. [ID:nL9413416] Continued...

