(MENAFN- Saudi Press Agency) Britain's top share index rose on Wednesday as gains for Standard Chartered helped extend this week's rally, although trade was cautious ahead of a final government budget statement before May's national election, Reuters reported.
Standard Chartered rose 6.1 percent, the top FTSE 100 riser, lifted by positive broker comment. Barclays welcomed the appointment of former JP Morgan investment bank boss Bill Winters, announced last month, lifting its rating on the stock to "overweight" from "equal weight".
Britain's FTSE 100 was up 23.97 , or 0.3 percent, at 6,861.58 by 0848 GMT, with Standard Chartered contributing nearly 5 points of the advance.
The FTSE gains built on a 0.5 percent rise on Tuesday, when oil stocks rallied, boosted by hopes that the battered sector would get some relief from tax measures in Wednesday's budget.
The index is up 2.5 percent from last week's low, leaving it just 1.7 percent off an all time high set on March 2.
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