Stocks in the U.K. rose Thursday, as investors waited for word on what the European Central Bank will do next on monetary policy.

The FTSE 100 UKX, +0.54% rose 0.5% to 6,883.66 as all sectors logged gains.

The strongest performer was Micro Focus International PLC MCRO, +16.11% , whose shares rallied 18% after Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co. HPE, +1.05% said it will spin off and merge its software operations with those of the British company in an $8.8 billion (£6.59 billion) deal.

Markets will be on the lookout for the ECB’s policy announcement later in the day. Investors have become increasingly convinced President Mario Draghi will extend the bank’s asset-buying program beyond March 2017, but there are still questions as to whether that move will be made Thursday.