India, March 3 -- U.K. stocks are modestly higher on Monday with the benchmark FTSE 100 hovering near record highs, led by gains defense shares like in most of the major markets across Europe, on prospects of increased spending on defense.
The FTSE 100 was up 61.97 points or 0.7% at 8,871.71 a little past noon.
BAE Systems is up with a hefty gain of 14%. Rolls-Royce Holdings is gaining about 5.5%.
IMI, Antofagasta, Anglo American Plc and Intermediate Capital are up 2.5 to 4%. Glencore is rising 2.3%, while Haleno is advancing nearly 2% and Melrose Industries is gaining 1.8%.
Fresnillo, Flutter Entertainment, Rightmove, Shell, Rio Tinto, GSK, F&C Investment Trust, Marks & Spencer, HSBC, Hikma Pharmaceuticals, Smurfit, Smith & Nephew and ...