London’s leading shares index ended its losing streak today after positive figures from the US jobs market boosted confidence.
The top flight, which lost ground in the first three sessions of the week, closed 53 points higher at 5,829.8 as it emerged that applications for unemployment benefits in the US fell last week.
Luxury goods retailer Burberry topped the risers board with a 13% surge, up 133p to £11.36, as an update on recent trading offered comfort following last month’s profits warning.
Elsewhere in the retail sector, WH Smith disappointed investors by announcing that highly regarded chief executive Kate Swann will step down in June. Shares in the FTSE 250 Index retailer were 3% or 21.5p lower at 630.5p.
Meanwhile, conditional trading in Churchill and Privilege insurer Direct Line Group got off to a strong start.
With shares initially priced at 175p, the stock rose soon after trading began and closed ahead at 188p.
Parent RBS rose 11.1p to 273.8p, while fellow blue-chip banks also made gains. Barclays rose 5% or 10.7p to 232.7p, Lloyds Banking Group added 0.8p to 39.3p and HSBC lifted 7.6p to 597.2p.
The biggest Footsie risers included Croda International, up 101p at £23.22.
Among the biggest Footsie fallers were GlaxoSmithKline off 8.5p at 1,427.5p, Smith & Nephew down 3.5p at 651.5p and Next off 17p at £35.76.
Carrie Keenan, of investment manager and financial planning specialist Brewin Dolphin in Aberdeen, noted Cairn Energy climbed 3.42% at 290.25p, whilst BG Group gained 2.38% at 1,333.5p.
On the fallers board, John Menzies dropped 1.1% to 633.25p and A.G. Barr weakened 0.47% at 447.05p.