British equities rose on Friday as investors adopted a risk-on mood after the U.S. passed a deal to avert a catastrophic debt default, while shares of Dechra Pharmaceuticals surged after the veterinary drugmaker agreed to be taken private.
All major FTSE 350 sectors closed in the green.
The internationally focused FTSE 100 climbed 1.6 percent as risk appetite grew after the U.S. Senate passed legislation to raise the $31.4 trillion federal debt ceiling. Hopes that the Federal Reserve might stand pat on rates also aided sentiment.
The domestically focused FTSE 250 rose 1.7 percent, boosted by a 7.6 percent surge in Dechra after it agreed to be bought by investment firm EQT for an equity value of 4.46 billion pounds ($5.62 billion).
However, the FTSE 100 posted a 0.3 percent weekly decline, extending the previous week’s drop, on worries that further monetary tightening by the Bank of England could strain corporate earnings and as analysts flagged stagflation risks.
The mid-cap FTSE 250 added 1.9 percent for the week.
Energy firms and industrial metals miners added 2.2 percent and 4.2 percent, respectively, as commodity prices rebounded.
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A report on top-commodity consumers China’s work on new measures to support its embattled property market fueled optimism.
“Today’s reports of a possible stimulus plan have prompted a strong rebound for the whole sector,” said Michael Hewson, chief market analyst at CMC Markets UK.
China-exposed insurer Prudential jumped 5.7 percent, while banks Standard Chartered and HSBC added 3.5 percent and 1.5 percent, respectively.
Among other movers, Pelatro jumped 19.2 percent after the marketing firm won a contract in the Middle East.
A media report stated Amazon.com Inc. is in talks with several telecom providers to offer low-cost or possibly free mobile phone service to U.S. Prime subscribers.
UK telecom stocks such as Vodafone Group and BT Group fell 0.7 percent and 3.4 percent, respectively.
