By Barbara Kollmeyer, MarketWatch
MADRID (MarketWatch) -- The U.K.'s benchmark stock index rose
for a third straight session on Thursday, led by advertising group
WPP PLC.
The FTSE 100 climbed 1.3% to end at 6,243.40, following a 1%
gain for Wednesday. The start of another strong day for Wall Street
after upbeat data also helped underpinned London's gains.
WPP Group PLC was the top gainer in the FTSE 100, rallying 4.5%.
Bank of America/Merrill Lynch added the stock to its most preferred
list, citing an "attractive combination of value and growth."
Shares of Vodafone Group PLC (VOD) rose 1.6% after Citigroup
reaffirmed its buy rating on the telecom group.
Resource stocks did some heavy lifting, as oil prices and some
industrial metals rose. Shares of oil group Royal Dutch Shell PLC
(RDSA) rose 2%.
Among miners, BHP Billiton PLC (BLT) gained 1.3%, Rio Tinto PLC
(RIO) rose 2% and Glencore Xstrata PLC added 0.5%.
Anglo American PLC added 0.7%.
On the downside in London, Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC
(RBS) fell 1.6%.
Shares of International Consolidated Airlines Group fell 0.2%
after Spain's Bankia SA said it sold its stake in the group for 675
million euros ($879 million).
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