The FTSE 100 Index (UKX) ended the day up 0.50%, closing at 7,711.38. Several companies within the index experienced notable gains, while others saw a decline in their stock prices.
Top Gainers
- DCC PLC (DCC), a specialty retail company, saw the largest increase on Friday with shares rallying 2.29%.
- Flutter Entertainment PLC (FLTR) and Burberry Group PLC (BRBY), both in the gambling and clothing industries respectively, also experienced significant gains with their shares rising 2.23% and 2.18% respectively.
- Barratt Developments PLC (BDEV), a residential building construction company, and 3i Group PLC (III), an investment advisors business, rounded out the top five gainers as their stocks increased 2.06% and 1.81% respectively.
Top Losers
- On the other hand, Hikma Pharmaceuticals PLC (HIK), a pharmaceuticals company, saw the largest drop among FTSE 100 constituents as shares fell 1.53% on Friday.
- BT Group PLC (BT) and SEGRO PLC (SGRO), operating in the wired telecommunications services and industrial/office reits sectors, respectively, also experienced losses with their shares shedding 1.47% and 1.36% respectively.
- The top five decliners were completed by British Land Co. PLC (BLND) and Land Securities Group PLC (LAND), both diversified REITs companies, as their stocks shed 1.34% and 1.27% respectively.
Currency and Commodity Updates
The pound weakened against both the dollar and euro, down 0.14% against the dollar (GBPUSD) at $1.2391 and 0.44% against the euro (GBPEUR) at €1.1608.
In the commodities market, Brent crude (BRN00) rose 0.1% to $93.80. The yield on the 10-year gilt (BX:TMBMKGB-10Y) also increased by 7.920 basis points to 4.362%.