Investing.com – U.K. stocks were lower after the close on Thursday, as losses in the Food Producers, Automobiles & Parts and Tobacco sectors led shares lower.
At the close in London, the Investing.com United Kingdom 100 declined 0.40%.
The best performers of the session on the Investing.com United Kingdom 100 were Pearson PLC (LON:PSON), which rose 2.22% or 16.00 points to trade at 737.00 at the close. Meanwhile, BT Group PLC (LON:BT) added 2.16% or 5.55 points to end at 262.75 and Mediclinic International PLC (LON:MDCM) was up 1.46% or 8.50 points to 590.50 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Babcock International Group PLC (LON:BAB), which fell 3.47% or 23.50 points to trade at 654.50 at the close. Admiral Group PLC (LON:ADML) declined 2.59% or 49.00 points to end at 1844.00 and Associated British Foods PLC (LON:ABF) was down 2.33% or 68.00 points to 2852.00.
Rising stocks outnumbered declining ones on the London Stock Exchange by 1080 to 1069 and 133 ended unchanged.
Shares in Babcock International Group PLC (LON:BAB) fell to 5-year lows; falling 3.47% or 23.50 to 654.50.
Gold Futures for February delivery was down 0.88% or 11.20 to $1254.90 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in January rose 1.05% or 0.59 to hit $56.55 a barrel, while the February Brent oil contract rose 1.19% or 0.73 to trade at $61.95 a barrel.
GBP/USD was up 0.26% to 1.3427, while EUR/GBP fell 0.33% to 0.8778.
The US Dollar Index Futures was up 0.14% at 93.66.