British stocks down 0.74 pct Friday

LONDON, March 8 (Xinhua) -- British stocks decreased on Friday, with the benchmark FTSE 100 Index down by 0.74 percent, or 53.24 points, to close at 7,104.31 points.

Admiral Group, a motor insurance company, rose 2.49 percent, the top gainer of the blue chips. Fresnillo and Unilever increased by 2.18 percent and 0.97 percent, respectively.

GVC Holdings, a multinational sports betting and gaming group, was the worst performer in the blue chips, with its shares losing 13.96 percent.

Ashtead Group, a British industrial equipment rental company, dropped 4.05 percent. Antofagasta, a copper mining company, fell 3.97 percent. Enditem