UK stocks surge on weaker pound

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Blue chip UK stocks surged in afternoon trading on Friday as a weaker pound helped the exporter-heavy FTSE 100 index.

Disappointing data for the country's dominant services sectors showed that activity for November slowed to its lowest level since the result of the Brexit referendum, while a decline in UK manufacturing also continued for another month.

The UK's benchmark index closed 88.26 points, or 1.22%, higher at 7,326.81.

LARGE AND MID CAP RISERS AND FALLERS

Real estate portal Rightmove firmed 1.9% to 630.6p on announcing that chairman Scott Forbes would retire at the end of the year and be replaced by Andrew Fisher, the former chief of music recognition app Shazam.

Industrial thread company Coats dropped 7.77% to 68.25p as it delivered a profit warning pinned on a 'challenging' market that had crimped sales.

Online gambling software provider Playtech fell 2.5% to 400p as it announced that it expected its annual adjusted operating earnings to be 'a little below' current market consensus.

Playtech pinned the downgrade on tough trading conditions during September and October at its equities division TradeTech and said it was 'evaluating all options' for that business.

Developer and regeneration group St. Modwen Properties shed 2.5% to 445p on announcing that chief executive Mark Allan was leaving to take up the same role at Land Securities, which rose 0.9% to 912.8p.

Nationwide Building Society reported a 40% drop in first-half profit owing to a rise in expenses for mis-sold insurance, higher business investment costs and a deterioration in its net interest margin. The company's core capital deferred shares were broadly flat at 163.5p.

SMALL CAP RISERS AND FALLERS

Investment manager Brooks Macdonald moved 1.1% higher to £18.45 after it launched a £30m share placing to fund its £39m cash and shares acquisition of Cornelian Asset Managers.

Specialist currency manager Record fell 5.7% to 38.1p, having booked a 22% fall in first-half profit dented by lower management and performance fees.

Mobile commerce firm Bango added 0.4% to 128p as it hit revenue and other targets for recent acquisition Audiens two months ahead of schedule.

Social video company Brave Bison sank 10.3% to 1.3p after it warned on profit, partly blaming the continued impact of adapting to Facebook's new publishing policies announced earlier this year.

Northern Ireland gold miner Galantas Gold tumbled 7.7% to 1.5p as it reported a big drop in revenue for the third quarter and said it would have to raise funds in the next six months.

South-East Asia focused oil and gas firm Coro Energy fell 8.9% to 2.05p after a well offshore Indonesia failed to discover commercial hydrocarbons.

Nutrition group Science in Sport declined 2.1% to 47p as it warned of a slight operating loss for the full year.

Security training services company Pennant International shed 0.78% to 87.32p on announcing that finance director Gary Barnes was standing down, with immediate effect.