FTSE slips 0.06% ahead of stress test results (AFP)

LONDON (AFP) – London's benchmark FTSE 100 index slipped just 0.06 percent on Friday to close at 5,843.66 points, as investors waited for key bank stress test results.

As trading ended just ahead of the announcement, fashion label Burberry had made the biggest gains of the day, rising 4.16 percent (63 pence) to close at 1,577, followed by Tullow Oil, which rose 1.97 percent (25 pence) to close at 1,294.

Broadcaster BSkyB also made strong gains after days of uncertainty, rising 1.94 percent (13.5 pence) to finish at 709.5. Rebekah Brooks, the embattled chief executive of Rupert Murdoch's British newspaper arm, announced her resignation earlier on Friday amidst a storm over alleged phone-hacking. Murdoch has scrapped a plan to buy out BSkyB amid the scandal.

Mobile satellite firm Inmarsat was the worst blue-chip performer, falling 3.25 percent (18 pence) to close at 535. It was finished by carmaker Rolls-Royce, which was down 2.5 percent (16.5 pence) to finish at 642.5.

At 1703 BST, a pound was worth 1.6156 dollars or 1.1398 euros.