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* FTSE 100 up up 0.5 percent
* United Utilities rises after results
* Estate agents slump on fee clampdown plans
* Thomas Cook rises to highest since May
By Alistair Smout
LONDON, Nov 23 (Reuters) - Britain's top share index rose onWednesday, boosted by rising utility and commodity firms beforefinance minister Philip Hammond outlines his policies in thebiggest economic update since the country voted to leave theEuropean Union.
The FTSE 100 index was up 0.5 percent by 1034 GMT,helped by a rise in United Utilities after its results,with miners also rallying again to extend a rally in theprevious session.
Hammond will outline his plans in his Autumn Statement at1230 GMT. Sectors such as housing, utilities, energy andairlines could witness big swings in the event of anysector-specific announcements.
Estate agents Foxtons and Countrywide tumbled 10 and 5 percent respectively on a government plan toban one-off tenant fees, set to be announced by Hammond.
Hammond "will wrestle with a worsening of public financesbut will nonetheless put cheaper housing front and centre bybanning letting fees," said Mike van Dulken, head of research atAccendo Markets, in a note, adding that the move could dent theprofitability of estate agents.
United Utilities rallied on the back of its results after itposted slightly higher first-half profit, helped by new pricingregulations and lower spending on infrastructure improvements.
Sector peer Severn Trent, which reports results onThursday, rose 2.3 percent. It saw its target price upgraded byHSBC.
Precious metals miners benefited from a slight rise in theprice of gold. Fresnillo rose 3.6 percent whileRandgold rose 3 percent.
In all, the FTSE 350 mining sector was up 1.3percent.
Among mid caps, Thomas Cook rose 9 percent after it postedprofits slightly ahead of expectations.
It rose to its highest level since May, when it cautionedthat security concerns were dampening summer demand in an updatewhich sent shares down 19 percent.
"It was a tough year for the tourist industry withinstability in Turkey and a spate of terror attacks taking theirtoll," said Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell.
"But Thomas Cook's swift action to shift its holidayprogramme into the Western Mediterranean and long haul, togetherwith the benefits of a stronger euro, helped it to maintainrevenue, and bookings for next summer in its key markets areencouraging."
Online trading firm CMC Markets dropped 5 percentafter it reported a fall in net operating income in its firsthalf results. (Reporting by Alistair Smout; Editing by Mark Trevelyan)
