India, Feb. 23 -- U.K. stocks traded higher on Friday after Standard Chartered reported a better-than-expected 19 percent jump in full-year profits.
Investors ignored survey data from GfK showing that U.K. consumer confidence dropped in February on weak economic conditions.
The consumer sentiment index fell to -21 in February from -19 in January. The score was seen at -18.
The benchmark FTSE 100 was up 0.1 percent at 7,694 after edging up 0.3 percent on Thursday.
Standard Chartered jumped 6.5 percent. The lender announced a $1 billion share buyback after posting quarterly earnings that beat estimates.
Aerospace and defense group Chemring dropped 1.2 percent after keeping expectations for fiscal 2024 performance unchanged.
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