British stocks up 0.42 pct Monday

LONDON, April 23 (Xinhua) -- British stocks rose on Monday, with the benchmark FTSE 100 Index up by 0.42 percent, or 30.70 points, to close at 7,398.87 points.

St James's Place, a wealth management business, soared 3.33 percent, the top gainer of the blue chips. Smith & Nephew and Old Mutual increased by 2.74 percent and 2.72 percent, respectively.

NMC Health, a healthcare chain and distribution business, was the worst performer in the blue chips, with its shares losing 3.47 percent. Bunzl, a multinational distribution and outsourcing company, dropped 2.58 percent. WPP, a British multinational advertising and public relations company, fell 2.49 percent. Enditem