By Ben Eisen, MarketWatch
NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- A strong performance by retail stocks
helped push the FTSE 100 to a higher close on Friday, as the
benchmark index celebrated its 30th anniversary.
The FTSE 100 rose 0.2% to 6,730.67. Stocks gained across Europe,
with the STOXX Europe 600 index up 0.6% at 327.64.
Retailers were some of the biggest U.K. movers, with clothing
store Next PLC gaining 10% after it raised its full-year pretax
profit forecast.
Marks & Spencer Group PLC gained 3.9%. Sports Direct
International PLC was up 2%.
Department-store firm Debenhams PLC rallied 3.9% after the firm
said Chief Financial Officer Simon Herrick would resign. Earlier in
the week, the firm warned that its profits may not meet
expectations following a weak holiday season, according to news
reports.
Data released Friday underscored continued improvement in the
housing sector. Home prices rose 1.4% in December to their highest
levels in over five-and-a-half years. U.K. mortgage approvals in
November also rose to a five-year high. The U.K. construction
sector expanded for its eighth straight month in November.
Meanwhile, retailer House of Fraser was said to be preparing an
initial public offering.
The FTSE 100 became the benchmark index of choice to track the
London Stock Exchange on January 3, 1984, according to The
Guardian. It replaced the FTSE 30. The index has witnessed
substantial change during its tenure, with only 19 of the original
companies remaining on the index.
More from MarketWatch:
European stocks edge up.
Anti-EU parties target gains in EU Parliament.
Spanish jobless claims fall sharply in December.
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