LONDON (ShareCast) - UK stocks jumped on Friday as rising commodity prices lifted shares in the oil and mining sectors, while hopes increased that Europe can come to an agreement over the future of Greece.
The FTSE 100 rose 0.7% to 6,873.52 by the end of trade, its best finish since early September 2014. The index is now within touching distance of the closing high of 6,930 in December 1999.
Oil stocks were performing particularly well as the price of Brent crude topped the $60-a-barrel mark for the first time this year, while miners tracked metal prices higher.
Germany's DAX benchmark index rose to an intraday high of 11,014, its first time above 11,000, after data showed the German economic growth accelerated strongly to 0.7% in the fourth quarter of 2014 from 0.1% the preceding three months. As such, gross domestic product (GDP) growth across the wider Eurozone unexpectedly picked up to 0.3% from 0.2% in the third quarter.
Over in Greece, the new government promised to do "whatever we can" to secure a deal with its international creditors next week. Greece and its creditors began technical talks on Friday to lay the ground for a deal on the country's bailout ahead of Monday's meeting of Eurozone finance ministers.
Concerns about the Ukraine crisis have also eased after the country agreed to a ceasefire with Russia after tense negotiations in Minsk. However, there was continued fighting overnight in the rebel-held cities of eastern Ukraine, with the ceasefire not expected to kick in until Sunday.
Oil and mining stocks jump
Oil companies such as Tullow Oil, BG Group, Shell and BP were all performing well on the back of hopes that crude prices may have finally reached a bottom after a torrid few months for the industry.
Afren erased earlier losses to push higher despite the news that it has terminated talks about a potential takeover from Seplat. However, the board did say that it was talking with new third-party investors about recapitalising the company, which is struggling with funding.
Miners were also in demand, including BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto, Glencore and Antofagasta, as gold, silver and copper prices improved.
Anglo American also advanced despite the news that it has decided to write-down the value of certain assets by $3.9bn on the back of weaker iron ore prices, pushing the company into the red for the 2014 financial year. Even Fresnillo gained despite explaining how foreign exchange movements, depreciation and write-downs would adversely affect the silver producer's 2014 results.
Glaxosmithkline's shares were given a boost by UBS which upgraded its rating for the pharmaceutical stock by two notches from 'sell' to 'buy', saying that the business is now at an "inflection point" after a tough few years. The bank hiked its target price for the stock from 1,250p to 1,700p,
Rolls-Royce also rose, turning around after an earlier fall, as the engine maker met forecasts with its 2014 results and 2015 guidance. The group reported an 8% decline in underlying pre-tax profit to £1.76bn last year.
Among the notable fallers was utilities group Severn Trent after saying that while it is on track to hit expectations this financial year, operating costs are expected to rise.
Meanwhile, Bwin.Party plummeted 18% after reports emerged that potential suitors are rumoured to have lost interest in acquiring the betting group.
Market Movers
techMARK 3,128.03 +0.38%
FTSE 100 6,873.52 +0.67%
FTSE 250 16,847.78 +0.23%
FTSE 100 - Risers
Tullow Oil (TLW) 405.00p +5.17%
BHP Billiton (BLT) 1,569.00p +4.98%
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) 1,553.00p +4.54%
Rolls-Royce Holdings (RR.) 944.50p +4.36%
BG Group (BG.) 974.80p +4.32%
Rio Tinto (RIO) 3,151.50p +3.68%
Antofagasta (ANTO) 731.00p +3.61%
Glencore (GLEN) 286.60p +3.50%
Anglo American (AAL) 1,204.50p +3.35%
Standard Chartered (STAN) 956.40p +3.23%
FTSE 100 - Fallers
Ashtead Group (AHT) 1,073.00p -2.45%
BT Group (BT.A) 439.10p -2.42%
Carnival (CCL) 2,900.00p -2.13%
ARM Holdings (ARM) 1,062.00p -2.12%
Associated British Foods (ABF) 2,905.00p -2.06%
easyJet (EZJ) 1,707.00p -2.01%
SSE (SSE) 1,568.00p -2.00%
United Utilities Group (UU.) 954.00p -1.95%
Taylor Wimpey (TW.) 140.50p -1.89%
Severn Trent (SVT) 2,019.00p -1.85%
FTSE 250 - Risers
Vedanta Resources (VED) 524.00p +10.78%
RPS Group (RPS) 248.40p +9.48%
Premier Oil (PMO) 173.10p +8.94%
Spire Healthcare Group (SPI) 316.90p +4.86%
Kaz Minerals (KAZ) 257.70p +4.63%
Hellermanntyton Group (HTY) 329.00p +4.35%
Lonmin (LMI) 163.30p +4.01%
Countrywide (CWD) 539.50p +3.95%
Atkins (WS) (ATK) 1,361.00p +3.50%
Drax Group (DRX) 422.10p +3.18%
FTSE 250 - Fallers
Bwin.party Digital Entertainment (BPTY) 83.55p -18.49%
Supergroup (SGP) 1,002.00p -5.38%
AO World (AO.) 290.00p -4.79%
Acacia Mining (ACA) 270.20p -3.88%
Alent (ALNT) 337.50p -3.57%
Nostrum Oil & Gas (NOG) 493.60p -3.03%
Rank Group (RNK) 181.50p -2.94%
Spirax-Sarco Engineering (SPX) 3,117.00p -2.78%
Crest Nicholson Holdings (CRST) 443.40p -2.49%
Indivior (INDV) 166.40p -2.46%
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