LONDON -- The London stock market closed higher on Thursday after upbeat news from oil firms offset falls in the financial sector, with the FTSE index of leading shares up 21 points, or 0.7 percent, at 4388.7.
Tullow Oil, which rose 20 percent, was the top riser after it announced new oil finds in Ghana and Uganda while Cairn Energy also gained.
Friends Provident topped the FTSE 100 fallers, down 9.3 percent while Standard Life lost 6.6 percent, and Legal and General 6.3 percent, followed by Lloyds and Prudential.
Tullow Oil, which rose 20 percent, was the top riser after it announced new oil finds in Ghana and Uganda while Cairn Energy also gained.
Friends Provident topped the FTSE 100 fallers, down 9.3 percent while Standard Life lost 6.6 percent, and Legal and General 6.3 percent, followed by Lloyds and Prudential.
