The FTSE 100 Index UKX closed slightly higher on Friday, gaining 0.08% to reach 7,608.08.
Top Gainers
JD Sports Fashion PLC JD experienced the largest increase among the FTSE 100 constituents, with its shares rising by 4.80%. Meanwhile, Severn Trent PLC SVT and Croda International PLC CRDA, both in water utilities and chemicals respectively, saw their shares climb by 4.42% and 4.31% each.
Other notable gainers included United Utilities Group PLC UU, a water utilities company, and Ocado Group PLC OCDO, a food retail business, whose stocks increased by 4.08% and 3.34% respectively.
Top Losers
On the other hand, Hargreaves Lansdown PLC HL, an investment advisors company, experienced the largest decrease among FTSE 100 constituents, as its shares shed 2.05% on Friday.
Additionally, Shell PLC SHEL and BAE Systems PLC BA, both in the energy and defense sectors respectively, saw their stock prices drop by 2.05% and 2.03%.
BP PLC BP, a major oil & natural gas company, and CRH PLC CRH, a building materials/products company, rounded out the top five largest decreases as their stocks declined by 1.79% and 1.77% respectively.
Currency and Commodity Updates
The pound showed a slight increase of 0.04% against the dollar GBPUSD, reaching $1.2210. However, it experienced a slight decline of 0.10% against the euro GBPEUR, and settled at €1.1538.
In the commodities market, Brent crude BRN00 fell by 0.5% to $92.61. Additionally, the yield on the 10-year gilt TMBMKGB-10Y decreased by 4.880 basis points to 4.444%.