UK's FTSE 100 gains on mining boost

Industrial metal miners gained 0.4% as copper prices rose on stimulus hopes after data showed China's factory activity declined for a third straight month in June. Mortgage lender Nationwide said British house prices fell by the most since 2009 in the 12 months to June, although monthly data showed a small unexpected rise.

UK's FTSE 100 gained on Friday as China-exposed mining stocks rose after weak data supported expectations of more stimulus from Beijing to boost demand.

By 0732 GMT, the blue-chip FTSE 100 was up 0.3%, while the more domestically-focussed FTSE 250 midcap index rose 0.2%. Industrial metal miners gained 0.4% as copper prices rose on stimulus hopes after data showed China's factory activity declined for a third straight month in June.

Mortgage lender Nationwide said British house prices fell by the most since 2009 in the 12 months to June, although monthly data showed a small unexpected rise. Housing-related stocks such as real estate, real estate investment trusts and homebuilders gained between 0.7% and 0.9%.

Barratt Developments rose 0.6% after Britain's largest housebuilder said it had agreed to a sale of 604 homes to Citra Living Properties for a cash consideration of 168.4 million pounds ($212.57 million).