UK stocks : FTSE 100 adds 0.3 pct
UK stock closing: Britain's top shares pushed higher on Friday, reaching a fresh 4-1/2 year peak, led by strength in market heavyweight Vodafone, banks and energy stocks.
Vodafone was again the single biggest contributor to the FTSE 100's advance, up 0.9 percent to extend Thursday's 3.2 percent jump and alone adding over 3 points to the index.
Traders on Thursday cited talk that the mobile telecoms group may sell its stake in its U.S. wireless joint venture to its partner Verizon as the main reason behind the rally.
UK banks also lent the market their strength, with the sector up 0.3 percent on news lenders will repay the European Central Bank 137 billion euros in 3-year loans from its Long Term Refinancing Operations next week.
Banks have opted to hand back the money early in a sign that at least parts of the financial system are returning to health.
The FTSE 100 index closed up 19.54 points, or 0.3 percent at 6,284.45, notching up a 2.1 percent advance for the week, and taking the January gains to over 11.5 percent.
"The FTSE is having a good go - 6,300 looks to be where we're headed .... It's been an amazing run for the FTSE, so we might see a little bit of money come off the table up here" - Steve Asfour, head of trading at Fox Davies Capital.
Broker comment provided a lift for the blue chips, with the energy sector the best performer thanks to gains in heavyweight Royal Dutch Shell.
Shell alone provided 4.5 points
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