UK's FTSE 100 rises on healthcare, energy boost; set for firm weekly gains

FTSE 100 Climbs on Healthcare, Energy Boost; Poised for Best Week in a Month

Market Performance and Sector Highlights

Nov 13 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 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 slipped 0.3%.

Weekly Gains and Leading Performers

• Both benchmarks, however, were headed for firm weekly gains, with the FTSE 100 set for its best week since mid-October

Top Gainers

• Aviva 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 and Shell gained about 1% each and were among the biggest boosts to the index

• Healthcare heavyweights AstraZeneca and GSK also nudged higher, offering support to the main index

Sectoral Weakness

Miners and Defence

• Precious metal miners 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, Weir Group and Babcock International down between 0.9% and 1.6%

Retail Sector

• DFS Furniture dropped 4.5% after the sofa retailer warned that the upholstery market had softened further, hit by strained household finances and weaker consumer confidence

Investor Focus and Economic Outlook

• 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

(Reporting by Darshan Kumar and Shashwat Chauhan in Bengaluru; Editing by Joyjeet Das)