* Safe-haven gold above $3,000 for the first time
* UK to boost defence export lending by 2 billion pounds
* UK GDP falls unexpectedly in January
* FTSE 100 up 1.1%, FTSE 250 up 1.6%
March 14 (Reuters) – British stocks closed higher on
Friday, driven by gains in defence and mining shares, ending a
choppy week filled with uncertainty around U.S. tariffs.
The benchmark FTSE 100 gained 1.1%, set for its best
day in over one month. However, it fell on the week, pressured
by U.S. President Donald Trump’s back and forth on U.S. tariffs,
and downbeat quarterly earnings.
The midcap index gained 1.6% for the day, but closed
its fourth straight week in the red.
Aerospace and defence stocks rose 3.8%,
leading sectoral gains, after Britain announced a 2 billion
pound boost in lending to other countries to buy British
missiles and aircraft.
Sentiment also got a…
