British stocks up 0.63 pct Thursday

LONDON, March 8 (Xinhua) -- British stocks rose on Thursday, with the benchmark FTSE 100 Index up 45.40 points or 0.63 percent at 7,203.24 points.

Mediclinic International, the international private hospital group, soared 4.94 percent, the top gainer of the blue chips. NMC Health and Diageo rose by 2.69 percent and 2.54 percent, respectively.

Marks & Spencer Group, the British clothing and food retailer, was the worst performer in the blue chips, with its shares losing 3.26 percent. Anglo American, the international mining group, dropped 2.94 percent. Next, the British clothing and home products retailer, dropped 2.46 percent. Enditem