By Sara Sjolin, MarketWatch
LONDON (MarketWatch) -- U.K.'s FTSE 100 headed for its first
gain in three days on Tuesday, with upbeat earnings reports from BP
PLC, GKN PLC and Next PLC lifting the trading mood.
The FTSE 100 index climbed 0.4% to 6,812.46, recovering from a
0.1% loss on Monday.
Heavyweight BP (BP) added 0.7% after the oil giant reported a
rise in second-quarter profit, boosted by its investment in Russian
energy group OAO Rosneft .
Also on the rise, shares of GKN rallied 6.8% after the car-parts
maker posted an increase in first-half profit.
Next PLC advanced 1.7% after the clothing retailer raised its
full-year profit guidance and reporting strong sales for the first
half.
In data news, June data for mortgage approvals in the U.K. are
due at 9:30 a.m. in London, or 4:30 a.m. Eastern Time.
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