(Reuters) – British stocks rose on Friday, driven by gains in defence and mining stocks, after a chopppy week filled with uncertainty around U.S. tariffs.
The benchmark FTSE 100 was up 0.6% at 1112 GMT. However, the index was poised to lose 1% for the week, its second consecutive weekly decline, as volatility triggered by back and forth on U.S. tariff policies, and downbeat quarterly earnings, pressured equity markets.
The midcap index was up 0.7%, but was set to lose 1.4% for the week, its fourth straight week in the red.
Precious and industrial metal miners rose 2.7% and 2.6%, respectively, leading sectoral gains, after spot gold prices crossed the key $3,000 mark for the first time. [GOL/]
Meanwhile, Britain’s economy unexpectedly contracted in January, with the gross domestic product falling 0.1% versus expectations of a 0.1% monthly expansion from economists polled…
