India, Feb. 24 -- U.K. stocks are modestly higher Monday morning, led by gains in defense shares amid expectations of increased government spending for the sector.
Weakness in the energy space limit market's upside.
The benchmark FTSE 100 was up 25.00 points or 0.3% at 8,684.37 a little while ago.
Centrica is gaining nearly 5% and BAE Systems is up 3%. GSK is gaining nearly 2% after initiating a £2bn share buyback program.
Vodafone Group, Land Securities, SSE, Imperial Brands, United Utilites and British American Tobacco are up 1.5 to 2%.
National Grid is up 1.5% after the company announced that it has agreed to sell its National Grid Renewables U.S. onshore renewables business to Brookfield Asset Management.
Melrose Industries, ...