By Sara Sjolin, MarketWatch

LONDON (MarketWatch) -- U.K. stocks headed higher for a fifth straight session of gains on Monday, with airline shares flying on upbeat news from Ryanair.

The FTSE 100 index rose 0.1% to 6,554.46, after closing out last week with the biggest weekly advance since February.

Shares of easyJet PLC added 2.6% and International Consolidated Airlines SA (ICAGY) rose 1.5% after peer airliner Ryanair Holdings PLC lifted its full-year profit guidance and reported a rise in second-quarter earnings. Ryanair shares rallied 8.4% in Dublin.

Shares of Diageo PLC picked up 0.9% after the alcoholic-drinks company said it will take full control of tequila brand Don Julio and sell Irish whiskey brand Bushmills.

On a more downbeat note, shares of Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC (RBS) dropped 1.4% after Investec cut the bank to sell from hold.

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