By Carla Mozee, MarketWatch
U.K. stocks edged higher Friday, but remained on track for a
weekly loss.
The FTSE 100 was up 0.3% to 7,082.97, with all sectors
advancing. Utilities were emerging as the strongest performing
sector, with water company Severn Trent PLC up 1.9%, and British
Gas parent Centrica PLC adding 1%. SSE PLC gained 1.9%.
The blue-chip London benchmark was facing a 0.2% decline for the
week, which would be the third weekly loss in four weeks. The FTSE
100 on Wednesday marked a record closing high of 7,096.78.
Pearson PLC was also higher Friday, rising 1.7%. The stock was
kicked down 4% on Thursday after a Los Angeles Times report
(http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-ipad-curriculum-refund-20150415-story.html#page=1)
that the Los Angeles Unified School District is canceling a program
under which it purchased Apple (AAPL) iPads featuring curriculum
materials from Pearson. The country's second-largest school
district is seeking a refund that could amount to millions of
dollars.
AstraZeneca PLC (AZN) shares picked up 0.5% after the U.S. Food
and Drug Administration approved its selumetinib drug
(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/fda-approves-astrazenecas-melanoma-treatment-2015-04-17)
to treat a rare eye disease, Uveal melanoma.
London-traded decliners included Royal Mail PLC , whose shares
were off by 0.4% as Davy Research started coverage of the
parcel-delivery company with an underperform rating.
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