The UK's benchmark stock index closed the day just ahead of flat but kept the market buoyant for the sixth day in a row, despite news suggesting retail sales have dropped again.
The FTSE 100 index gained just 8 points or 0.1% to 5190.1 by close of business in London, led mainly by bookmaker William Hill, who announced it wasn’t a good start to the year but has seen a 7.6% business gain in the first 19 weeks of the year. William Hill’s share price closed up 2% to 551p. Hilton Group Plc, owner of the Ladbrokes betting outlets, also closed up 1.4% to 294.75p, after also announcing plans to sell 19 of its hotels. This contrasts with trading in retail stocks, which saw several high street names, such as Woolworths, Sainsbury and Kingfisher fall, after the British ...
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