Financial and resource stocks lead rise; Stocks and Shares in association with BREWIN DOLPHIN.

Byline: Gary Stockdale Brewin Dolphin

THE FTSE 100 index closed up 24.95 points yesterday, at 3925.20.

Financial and resource stocks heavily populated the leader's board.

Barclays continued its recovery, climbing 16.7p to 140.1p, followed by sector peer Lloyds Banking Group, which jumped 7.2p to 69p.

Life assurer Legal and General bounced back strongly from Tuesday's sell off, gaining 4.8p to 44.5p.

Hedge fund manager Man Group said it expects to report a 43% decline in full year pre tax profit for 2009.

This was well anticipated by the market, as the hedge fund industry is experiencing redemptions from investors.

The company also announced the launch of a new investment management business, exhibiting greater transparency. The stock advanced 11.5p to 219p.

While in the mining sector ENRC bounced 69.5p to 480p.

On the downside, utility stocks were out of favour, with Centrica, owner of British Gas, sliding 10.25p to 224.75p and Severn Trent tumbling 39p to 998p.

Within the regional portfolio Northumbrian Water was not immune from the sell off in utility stocks, falling back 9.5p to 223.5p.

Further details of Glaxo Smithkline's investment in Africa's biggest generic drug maker Aspen Pharmacare are expected in the next week. Glaxo rose 23p to 1055p Immunodiagnostic continued to trade strongly after Wednesday's positive update, rising a 9p to 180p.

Meanwhile Romag Holdings, the specialist manufacturer of glass and plastic composites for renewable energy applications, ended the session up 1.5p at 40p.

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