UK's FTSE 100 rises on healthcare, mining gains

Britain's FTSE 100 rose on Wednesday led by gains in industrial metal miners and pharmaceutical heavyweights, while Dettol-maker Reckitt fell after it reported weak quarterly like-for-like sales. The benchmark FTSE 100 index closed 0.3% higher.

Britain's FTSE 100 rose on Wednesday led by gains in industrial metal miners and pharmaceutical heavyweights, while Dettol-maker Reckitt fell after it reported weak quarterly like-for-like sales.

The benchmark FTSE 100 index closed 0.3% higher. Industrial metal miners added 1.4% and were the top sectoral gainers, as copper prices rose on China's decision to roll out fresh stimulus measures.

Drugmakers AstraZeneca and GSK gained 1.0% and 0.9%, respectively, further boosting the index. Reckitt lost 4% after it missed third-quarter like-for-like sales expectations as volumes declined.

"News of a 1 billion pound ($1.21 billion) share buyback is not enough to blind shareholders to an uncertain start for new Reckitt boss Kris Licht with like-for-like sales growth coming in slightly below expectations and its Nutrition business having a rough quarter," said AJ Bell head of financial analysis Danni Hewson. The personal care, drug and grocery stores index fell 0.8%.

Banks rose 0.4%, with Lloyds Banking Group gaining 2.2% after it reported a third-quarter profit that met forecasts and maintained its guidance for full-year performance. The mid-cap index FTSE 250 shed 0.7% briefly hitting a one-year low.

Plastic and packaging component supplier Essentra eased 2.7% on tempering its annual operating profit outlook, citing destocking pressures in North America and slow recovery in China. Defence company BAE Systems gained 1.7%.