The FTSE 100 Index Opens 0.26% Higher

The FTSE 100 traded higher on Friday, heading for a fourth consecutive session of modest gains and a weekly advance of around 0.2%. Mining stocks benefited from stronger precious and industrial metal prices, with Antofagasta rising more than 5%, Fresnillo gaining around 3.6%, Endeavour Mining adding 2.8%, Anglo American climbing 2.5% and Glencore advancing 2.3%. Among financial stocks, HSBC gained more than 1%. Meanwhile, heavyweight oil companies Shell and BP were little changed as Brent crude prices edged lower. Healthcare stocks underperformed, with GSK falling around 1% and AstraZeneca declining 1.8%. Meanwhile, data showed UK private sector output expanded at the fastest pace since April, led by a sustained turnaround in service sector activity, which offset a slowdown in manufacturing production growth. Still, UK retail sales fell for the first time since April because very hot weather and fewer discounts kept shoppers away.

The FTSE 100 Index is gaining 28 points or 0.26 percent on Friday. Leading the gains are Antofagasta (4.67%), Fresnillo (3.69%) and Endeavour (3.10%). Top losers are Experian (-2.09%), Smith & Nephew (-1.86%) and GlaxoSmithKline (-1.67%).

The FTSE 100 Index went up by 13 points or 0.12 percent on Thursday to close at 10756 points. The rise was led by Weir (3.79%), Fresnillo (3.74%) and Endeavour (2.59%). On the downside, the weakerst performers were JD Sports Fashion (-14.17%), Investec (-4.21%) and Legal & General (-3.83%).