Drugs end FTSE on a high

AstraZeneca posted the biggest gains with a rise of 2.51% to £28.20, closely followed by GlaxoSmithKline which added 2.37% to £14.67, on the back of US pharmaceutical company Merck raising its quarterly and full year earnings guidance. Meanwhile BP climbed 2.31% to 576p, while Royal Dutch Shell ‘A’ shares added 2.3% to £17.37, although Imperial Tobacco Group limited gains by ending the session with a fall of 1.27% to £22.62. Kingfisher was the biggest loser with a fall of 1.46% to 270p, closely followed by Rolls-Royce Group which dropped 1.46% to 490.75p, while Experian fell 1.17% to ...