The U.K. stock market showed positive gains on Friday, with the FTSE 100 Index closing slightly up at 7,694.27 (+0.02%).
Polymetal International emerged as the top performer among FTSE 100 constituents, with its shares soaring an impressive 30.30%.
Other notable gainers included International Consolidated Airlines Group S.A. (+6.58%) and Standard Chartered PLC (+3.98%), two major players in the passenger airlines and international banks sectors, respectively.
Biotechnology company AstraZeneca PLC (+3.35%) and technical services firm Intertek Group PLC (+2.69%) also showcased substantial growth, rounding out the top five performers.
On the downside, non-life insurance company Admiral Group PLC experienced the largest decrease among FTSE 100 constituents, with shares declining by 5.10%.
Investment advisors firm St. James’s Place PLC (-4.81%) and industrial/office REITs company SEGRO PLC (-2.36%) also suffered losses, shedding 4.81% and 2.36% respectively.
Full-line insurance company Aviva PLC (-2.18%) and home goods retailer Kingfisher PLC (-2.06%) completed the list of the top five companies facing decreases in stock value.
In currency markets, the British pound strengthened against the U.S. dollar by 0.55% ($1.2866) and remained steady against the euro at €1.1657.
Meanwhile, Brent crude oil prices showed stability, increasing marginally to $83.80, while the yield on the 10-year gilt rose by 1.540 basis points to reach 4.326%.
