By Sara Sjolin, MarketWatch
LONDON (MarketWatch) -- The U.K.'s FTSE 100 index rose for a
third straight day on Friday, ahead of the closely watched U.S.
jobs data that investors hope will confirm the labor market is in
solid shape.
The London benchmark index jumped 0.6% to 6,588.25, setting it
on track for a 0.6% weekly advance. Markets across Europe had also
risen on Thursday on hopes the European Central Bank will launch a
full-blown quantitative easing program, after President Mario
Draghi reiterated that more stimulus are on the cards if needed to
revive the region's sluggish economy.
On Friday, the main event was the nonfarm-payrolls report from
the U.S. due at 1:30 p.m. London time, or 8:30 a.m. Eastern
Time.
U.K. trade data are also on tap at 9:30 a.m. London time.
Among major movers in Friday's action, mining shares advanced as
most metals prices headed north. Shares of Rio Tinto PLC (RIO)
picked up 2.1%, Glencore PLC (GLCNF) added 1.9% and BHP Billiton
PLC (BHP) gained 1.8%.
On a more downbeat note, shares of Admiral Group PLC lost 3.7%
after the car insurer reported a drop in third-quarter revenue.
In other London news, real-estate company Songbird Estates PLC ,
which owns 69% of Canary Wharf, rejected a takeover bid from the
Qatar Investment Authority.
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