FTSE 100 closes higher on positive corporate news

FTSE 100 Index, British benchmark stock market gauge, Friday increased by 0.41 percent, or 27.41 points, to 6,696.28, as some of the blue chips gave positive note to the market.

Furthermore, official data showed that the Chicago Purchasing Manager Index (PMI) of the United States rose to 54.7 in July from 49.4 a month earlier, beating the market expectation consensus of 50.8.

Rolls-Royce Holdings' share price increased by 4.94 percent topped the gainers of the blue chips. Carnival gained 5.21 percent as its rival Royal Caribbean increased its annual profit forecast.

ITV also climbed 3.5 percent after cable operator Liberty Global increased its stake to nearly 10 percent, though it noted that it still had no intention of taking over ITV.

Prices of real estate developer Persimmon and tourism service provider TUI increased by 3.07 percent and 2.89 percent respectively.

Lloyds Banking Group led the top losers of the blue chips with a share price drop of 3.28 percent, followed by Antofagasta (2.33 percent), InterContinental Hotels Group (1.64 percent), International Consolidated Airlines Group (1.48 percent) and Glencore (1.42 percent).

Trading volume in FTSE 100 companies was around 30 percent larger than the 30-day average. And the index has gained 4.31 percent so far this year. Enditem