November 8, 2003	Saturday	Ramazan 12, 1424

LONDON, Nov 7: Britain’s blue-chip share index closed sharply higher on Friday, led by market-sensitive insurance stocks, as investors cheered strong US jobs data showing the improving health of the world’s biggest economy.

Telecoms company Cable & Wireless was top FTSE gainer, rising 4.1 per cent on hopes it would exit its loss-making US division after a report the unit would go into bankruptcy after failing to find a buyer. C&W declined to comment.

The FTSE 100 index closed 52.7 points or 1.2 per cent higher at 4,376.9.—Reuters