Investing.com – U.K. stocks were higher after the close on Thursday, as gains in the Beverage, Healthcare Equipment & Services and Automobiles & Parts sectors led shares higher.
At the close in London, the Investing.com United Kingdom 100 rose 0.14%.
The best performers of the session on the Investing.com United Kingdom 100 were Mediclinic International PLC (LON:MDCM), which rose 3.25% or 16.50 points to trade at 525.00 at the close. Meanwhile, Sage Group PLC (LON:SGE) added 3.07% or 24.00 points to end at 806.00 and ITV PLC (LON:ITV) was up 2.42% or 3.60 points to 152.40 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Centrica PLC (LON:CNA), which fell 15.49% or 25.30 points to trade at 138.00 at the close. Babcock International Group PLC (LON:BAB) declined 3.26% or 23.00 points to end at 682.50 and National Grid PLC (LON:NG) was down 2.83% or 25.20 points to 866.10.
Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the London Stock Exchange by 1136 to 983 and 60 ended unchanged.
Shares in Centrica PLC (LON:CNA) fell to 5-year lows; down 15.49% or 25.30 to 138.00. Shares in Sage Group PLC (LON:SGE) rose to 5-year highs; gaining 3.07% or 24.00 to 806.00. Shares in Babcock International Group PLC (LON:BAB) fell to 5-year lows; down 3.26% or 23.00 to 682.50. Shares in National Grid PLC (LON:NG) fell to 52-week lows; losing 2.83% or 25.20 to 866.10.
Gold Futures for December delivery was down 0.05% or 0.67 to $1291.53 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in January rose 0.48% or 0.28 to hit $58.30 a barrel, while the January Brent oil contract fell 0.09% or 0.06 to trade at $63.26 a barrel.
GBP/USD was down 0.14% to 1.3303, while EUR/GBP rose 0.41% to 0.8908.
The US Dollar Index Futures was down 0.11% at 93.05.