In Thursday's trading session, the UK equity market closed with modest gains, propelled by positive momentum in several industrial and telecommunications sectors. The Investing.com United Kingdom 100 index advanced by 0.09%, reflecting overall investor confidence amid a selective sector rally.
Leading the day’s performance was WPP PLC (LON:WPP), which saw its share price increase by 4.45%, adding 13.80 points to settle at 323.90. Hikma Pharmaceuticals PLC (LON:HIK) followed with a 3.16% gain, rising 48.00 points to close at 1,568.00. The retail sector also had a positive showing, with JD Sports Fashion PLC (LON:JD) shares increasing by 3.12%, or 2.56 points, ending at 84.62.
On the downside, Admiral Group PLC (LON:ADML) experienced the largest drop, declining 4.61% or 136.00 points to 2,812.00 at the close. BAE Systems PLC (LON:BAES) followed with a 3.73% loss, falling 77.00 points to 1,985.00. Similarly, ICG PLC (LON:ICGIN) decreased by 2.61%, or 52.00 points, to finish at 1,940.00.
The trading day saw advancing shares significantly outnumber decliners on the London Stock Exchange, with 1,344 stocks climbing compared to 468 that fell, and 493 remaining flat.
Commodity markets displayed a split trend, as February gold futures rose 0.90%, increasing by 43.31 points to $4,880.81 per troy ounce. In contrast, crude oil prices were under pressure; March delivery contracts for crude oil dropped by 1.98% or $1.20 to $59.42 per barrel, while Brent crude contracts for the same month declined 1.85%, or $1.21, to trade at $64.03 per barrel.
In currency markets, the British pound strengthened against the US dollar, gaining 0.42% to 1.35 USD, whereas the euro remained largely unchanged against the pound at 0.87 EUR/GBP. The US Dollar Index futures slipped by 0.34%, standing at 98.22.