U.K. equities finished higher on Friday, with the Investing.com United Kingdom 100 gaining 0.25% at the close in London. Advancing stocks outnumbered falling ones by 1,050 to 638, while 563 issues ended unchanged.
The advance was driven by strength in the Electrical, Banking and Industrial Transportation sectors. SSE PLC led the gainers, rising 2.86% to 2,449.00, followed by HSBC Holdings PLC, which added 1.62% to 1,528.40. Severn Trent PLC climbed 1.48% to 3,146.00.
Losses were concentrated in consumer and defense names. B&M European Value Retail PLC fell 2.62% to 237.60, while BAE Systems PLC declined 2.29% to 2,044.00. Airtel Africa Plc shed 2.12% to 332.80.
Commodities ended lower as gold futures for December delivery dropped 2.19% to $4,562.05 per troy ounce. Crude oil for October delivery fell 0.48% to $83.13 a barrel, and the Brent contract for November delivery declined 0.56% to $88.02 a barrel.
The British pound held steady against the U.S. dollar, with GBP/USD unchanged at 1.35. The euro’s cross against sterling was little changed at 0.86, while the U.S. Dollar Index futures rose 0.46% to 99.55.
