FTSE 100 boosted by US job news

The FTSE 100 made solid gains Friday as better-than-anticipated data from the US showed that unemployment levels had stabilised at 9.7 percent.

London’s main FTSE 100 index was up 1.31 percent to 5,599.76 points.

Lloyds Banking Group (LBG) was the most traded stock, seeing 207 million units change hands, followed by Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS), which saw 136 million shares switch owners.

The day’s top performer was Schroders, which added 86 pence — or 6.56 percent — to finish at 1396, followed by miner Xstrata, which added 62.5 pence — or 5.56 percent — to stand at 1187.

Resolution was the biggest loser, dropping 1.3 pence — or 1.86 percent — to close at 68.75, followed by United Utilities which shed 9 pence — or 1.61 percent — to finish at 551.5.

Meanwhile, sterling gained against the dollar and the euro.

At 17:00, the pound was trading at 1.5110 dollars, down from 1.5021 at the close on Thursday, and sterling was trading at 1.111 against the euro, up from 1.107 over the same period.