The U.K. stock market experienced significant gains on Friday, with the FTSE 100 Index closing up 1.50% at 7,711.71.
Top Performers
Several companies within the FTSE 100 stood out with impressive increases in their share prices:
NatWest Group PLC (NWG) - Banking company NatWest Group PLC saw the largest jump, with shares rising by 7.09%.
Antofagasta PLC (ANTO) - Non-ferrous metals firm Antofagasta PLC saw a substantial rise of 5.65%.
Lloyds Banking Group PLC (LLOY) - Major international banks company Lloyds Banking Group PLC had a solid performance, with shares increasing by 3.90%.
Weir Group PLC (WEIR) - Industrial machinery company Weir Group PLC experienced a positive trend, with a 3.86% climb in their stock.
IMI PLC (IMI) - Precision products firm IMI PLC also showcased strong growth, with a 3.81% increase in their shares.
Declining Stocks
While many companies enjoyed gains, some experienced declines:
Airtel Africa PLC (AAF) - Wireless telecommunications services company Airtel Africa PLC witnessed the largest decrease with shares dropping by 3.22%.
Vodafone Group PLC (VOD) - Wireless telecommunications services firm Vodafone Group PLC faced a minor setback, with a 1.41% fall in their shares.
Entain PLC (ENT) - Gambling industries company Entain PLC also experienced a slight decline, with shares falling by 0.58%.
Ocado Group PLC (OCDO) - Food retail company Ocado Group PLC encountered a minimal decrease, with a 0.56% dip in their stock.
International Consolidated Airlines Group S.A. (IAG) - Passenger airlines firm International Consolidated Airlines Group S.A. also saw a slight decline, with shares dropping by 0.51%.
Market Indicators
Apart from stocks, other market indicators displayed mixed movements:
- Pound vs. Dollar: The pound showed a small 0.10% decline against the dollar, with an exchange rate of $1.2587.
- Pound vs. Euro: The pound also experienced a slight 0.07% decrease against the euro, with an exchange rate of €1.1689.
Additionally, Brent crude rallied by 0.5% to $83.29, while the yield on the 10-year gilt increased by 6.540 basis points to 4.113%.
