UPDATE 2-UK shares rise on hopes any U.S. stimulus deal could spur recovery

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* Ocado drops even after reporting stellar earnings
* UK's consumer spending falls at fastest rate in 7 months
* Homebuilder Bellway gains on strong demand for new homes
* FTSE 100 up 0.1%, FTSE 250 adds 0.1%

(Updates to market close)
By Shashank Nayar, Amal S and Shivani Kumaresan
Feb 9 (Reuters) - British shares rose on Tuesday as
investors looked for signs of progress in passing a proposed
$1.9 trillion stimulus plan by the U.S. administration that
could help spur a faster economic recovery this year.
The blue-chip FTSE 100 .FTSE was up 0.1%, with consumer
staples and financial stocks being the top performers. The
mid-cap FTSE 250 index .FTMC rose 0.1%.
The pound jumped to a near 34-month high as the dollar
.DXY languished near its lowest in a week. U.S. President Joe Biden is due to business leaders on
Tuesday as part of his efforts to secure a recovery package
known as the American Rescue Plan.
“A lot of big vaccine optimism is starting to become little
tempered. So until the virus is on its way out, investors can
only be looking at more stimulus and government support," said
Keith Temperton, a sales trader at Forte Securities.
The retail index .FTNMX5370 fell 1.0% after surveys showed
British consumer spending plunged at the fastest rate in seven
months. However, the online share of British grocery sales hit a
record 16% in January, up from 8% in the same month last year,
driven by increased demand during the country's third COVID-19
lockdown, industry data showed.
The FTSE 100 has recovered nearly 33% from its March 2020
lows, led by a raft of stimulus, but a surge in infections and
widespread lockdowns have slowed economic growth. The index has
also lagged its U.S. and European peers, which are up 75% and
47%, respectively.
Britain said it would require passengers arriving from
countries where worrying coronavirus variants were spreading to
pay for 10 days of quarantine in hotels, while rule-breakers
would face heavy fines or jail terms, under tighter restrictions
from next week. Homebuilder Bellway Plc BWY.L rose 3.0% after it reported
strong demand for new homes, as low lending rates and a
temporary cut in stamp duty boosted activity in the sector.
Ocado Group OCDO.L fell 1.7% and was one of the top drags
on the FTSE 100, even as the online grocer and technology group
reported a 69% increase in 2019-20 core earnings.