On Thursday the U.K.’s benchmark FTSE 100 headed into the Easter holidays on a positive note, with shares of Marks & Spencer leading the gains after a well-received earnings report.
U.K. markets will be closed on Friday and Monday for the Easter holidays.
The FTSE 100 index
UKX rose 0.2% to 6,824.18, cutting its weekly loss to 0.4%.
Marks & Spencer Group PLC
MKS
MAKSY climbed 4.3% after the retailer
reported a rise in fourth-quarter sales and said its food business
outperformed the market.
Diageo PLC DGE DEO inched 0.3% higher after the spirits maker said it will acquire full control of a traditional sorghum-beer business in South Africa.
Shares of CRH PLC CRH gained 0.8% after Exane BNP Paribas lifted the construction-materials company to neutral from underperform.
