By Carla Mozee, MarketWatch
LONDON (MarketWatch) -- U.K. stocks moved higher Friday, keeping
the benchmark FTSE 100 on track to wrap up the month of January
with a gain.
The FTSE 100 rose 0.4% to 6,838.47, and was looking at a 3.8%
rise for the month. That would be its best monthly performance
since a 4.6% rise in February 2014, according to FactSet data.
Mining and energy shares were among the top gainers following a
generally rough month for the sectors. Copper miner Fresnillo PLC
rose 3.3%, energy services firm Weir Group PLC climbed 2.3% and
miner Randgold Resources Ltd. advanced 2%.
But BT PLC shares dipped 1.4%. The telecom company posted a
better-than-expected rise in third-quarter profit to 558 million
pounds ($841 million), but revenue declined 3% to GBP4.47 billion,
below the consensus estimate of GBP4.49 billion. The company has
said it will pay GBP2 billion into their pension scheme over the
next three years. It said GBP1.5 billion of that will be paid
before the end of April.
Shares of International Consolidated Airlines Group PLC turned
fractionally lower. They had been higher at the start of trade
after the British Airways parent said Qatar Airways had bought a
9.99% stake in the company. IAG said it "welcomes Qatar Airways'
statement that it would look to strengthen existing commercial
ties."
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