Investing.com – U.K. stocks were higher after the close on Wednesday, as gains in the Fixed Line Telecommunications, Mobile Telecommunications and Beverage sectors led shares higher.
At the close in London, the Investing.com United Kingdom 100 gained 0.16% to hit a new all time high.
The best performers of the session on the Investing.com United Kingdom 100 were Fresnillo PLC (LON:FRES), which rose 4.42% or 56.00 points to trade at 1322.00 at the close. Meanwhile, Taylor Wimpey PLC (LON:TW) added 4.05% or 6.30 points to end at 158.90 and Barratt Developments PLC (LON:BDEV) was up 3.96% or 18.400 points to 483.400 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Next PLC (LON:NXT), which fell 14.32% or 683.00 points to trade at 4157.07 at the close. Marks and Spencer Group PLC (LON:MKS) declined 6.18% or 21.30 points to end at 322.99 and Associated British Foods PLC (LON:ABF) was down 3.69% or 100.00 points to 2611.00.
Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the London Stock Exchange by 993 to 929 and 431 ended unchanged.
Shares in Next PLC (LON:NXT) fell to 3-years lows; down 14.32% or 683.00 to 4157.07.
Gold for February delivery was up 0.39% or 4.55 to $1166.55 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in February rose 1.38% or 0.72 to hit $53.05 a barrel, while the March Brent oil contract rose 1.26% or 0.70 to trade at $56.17 a barrel.
GBP/USD was up 0.65% to 1.2319, while EUR/GBP unchanged 0.00% to 0.8503.
The US Dollar Index was down 0.63% at 102.59.