By Amal S (Reuters) -UK’s blue-chip FTSE 100 extended gains on Thursday, as a weaker pound lifted shares in dollar earners after the Bank of England raised interest rates as expected and struck a less hawkish tone on further hikes. The FTSE 100 climbed 0.5% in afternoon trade with shares in global companies including Diageo and British American Tobacco rising 2.7% and 0.7% respectively. The pound fell 0.3% versus the dollar. The domestically focused mid-cap index shed 0.2%. The BoE raised Bank Rate to 0.75% from 0.5%, its third consecutive hike since the COVID-19 pandemic, to rein in fast-risi…