Investing.com – U.K. stocks were higher after the close on Wednesday, as gains in the Banking, Life Insurance/Assurance and Software & Computer Services sectors led shares higher.
At the close in London, the Investing.com United Kingdom 100 gained 0.22% to hit a new all time high.
The best performers of the session on the Investing.com United Kingdom 100 were Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC (LON:RBS), which rose 4.60% or 12.90 points to trade at 293.40 at the close. Meanwhile, HSBC Holdings PLC (LON:HSBA) added 3.81% or 29.20 points to end at 795.50 and Prudential PLC (LON:PRU) was up 3.28% or 62.50 points to 1970.50 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Hikma Pharmaceuticals PLC (LON:HIK), which fell 6.14% or 66.00 points to trade at 1009.00 at the close. Taylor Wimpey PLC (LON:TW) declined 4.17% or 8.70 points to end at 200.20 and Paddy Power Betfair PLC (LON:PPB) was down 3.69% or 325.00 points to 8475.00.
Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the London Stock Exchange by 1083 to 906 and 163 ended unchanged.
Shares in Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC (LON:RBS) rose to 52-week highs; rising 4.60% or 12.90 to 293.40. Shares in HSBC Holdings PLC (LON:HSBA) rose to 5-year highs; up 3.81% or 29.20 to 795.50. Shares in Prudential PLC (LON:PRU) rose to all time highs; rising 3.28% or 62.50 to 1970.50.
Gold Futures for February delivery was up 0.34% or 4.50 to $1318.20 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in February rose 0.56% or 0.35 to hit $63.31 a barrel, while the March Brent oil contract rose 0.16% or 0.11 to trade at $68.93 a barrel.
GBP/USD was down 0.21% to 1.3511, while EUR/GBP rose 0.36% to 0.8848.
The US Dollar Index Futures was down 0.20% at 92.05.