was up 1 per cent, although its peer,“Volumes were below average across the board, and the market spent the day treading water, slightly weaker,” said a trader.The FTSE 100 index edged higher, powered by healthcare and utility stocks, while investors closely tracked the prospect of more Western sanctions against Russia over the war in Ukraine.rising 1.9 per cent and 3.1 per cent respectively to provide the biggest boost to the index.
Stocks were subdued in early trading, dragged down by heavyweight miners and homebuilders. But by close the mining index recouped losses to end 1 per cent higher. The domestically focussed mid-cap FTSE 250 index edged 0.1 per cent, though shares of cybersecurity companyTelecoms groupLloyds Banking Grouprose 2.3 per cent as the transport operator plans to expand its operations and reinstate its pre-Covid-19 dividend policy after a months-long strategic review.
The Stoxx Europe 600 index added 0.2 per cent by the close, with utilities, miners and energy sectors outperforming. France’s CAC 40 Index in the meantime was 1.3 per cent lower, lagging behind most major peers, on worries over potential political instability as far-right candidate Marine Le Pen looks likely to make it to the April 24th runoff against Emmanuel Macron.