UK's FTSE 100 rises on healthcare, energy boost; set for firm weekly gains
Nov 13 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE rose on Friday, with healthcare and energy-related companies providing the biggest boosts, keeping the blue-chip index on track for its best weekly showing in about a month.
The index gained 0.3% to 10,891.1 points by 1104 GMT, while the midcap FTSE 250 .FTMC slipped 0.3%.
Both benchmarks, however, were headed for firm weekly gains, with the FTSE 100 set for its best week since mid-October
Aviva AV.L rose 2.7% to lead FTSE 100 gainers after posting a 19% rise in general insurance premiums for the first nine months of 2026
Oil majors BP BP.L and Shell SHEL.L gained about 1% each and were among the biggest boosts to the index
Healthcare heavyweights AstraZeneca AZN.L and GSK GSK.L also nudged higher, offering support to the main index
Precious metal miners .FTNMX551030 extended losses from the previous session, slipping 0.6% and set for an over 6% fall for the week, tracking recent weakness in gold prices
Aerospace and defence-related stocks were among the losers, with Rolls-Royce RR.L, Weir Group WEIR.L and Babcock International BAB.L down between 0.9% and 1.6%
DFS Furniture DFSD.L dropped 4.5% after the sofa retailer warned that the upholstery market had softened further, hit by strained household finances and weaker consumer confidence
Investors will look out for a US producer prices reading due later in the day for clues on the Federal Reserve's interest rate path
The domestic data calendar is packed next week, with inflation readings and a jobs report expected
After the Bank of England increased its main lending rate earlier this month, traders are pricing in an over 82% chance of another 25-basis-point hike next month, according to data compiled by LSEG