UKX FTSE 100 Index

By Victor Reklaitis, MarketWatch

Airlines in focus as Heathrow decision looms

U.K. stocks stepped higher on Tuesday, with miners and wealth manager St. James's Place PLC helping to lead the way up.

The FTSE 100 tacked on 0.5% to 7,021.21, recovering from the prior day's decline of 0.5% (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/ftse-100-holds-to-thin-gain-but-easyjet-glides-higher-2016-10-24).

St. James's Place (STJ.LN) was one of the benchmark's biggest winners, climbing 2.6% after reporting a 31% jump (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/st-jamess-place-funds-under-management-up-31-2016-10-25) in funds under management.

Mining stocks also were among the notable advancers, moving up as prices for gold and most other metals rose. Gold futures were up 0.4% to $1,268.90 an ounce.

Anglo American PLC (AAL.LN) tacked on 4.2%, Antofagasta PLC (ANTO.LN) rose 3.9%, Rio Tinto PLC (RIO) (RIO) (RIO) gained 2.9%. Glencore PLC (GLEN.LN) gained 2.6%.

Airline stocks are likely to be in focus on Tuesday with a U.K. government decision imminent on whether to approve expansion plans at either Heathrow Airport or Gatwick Airport. British Airways parent International Consolidated Airlines Group S.A. (IAG.LN) was down 0.4%, while easyJet PLC (EZJ.LN) added 0.3%.

See:Here's why J.P. Morgan is giving up on its big call on U.K. stocks (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/jp-morgan-gives-up-on-key-2016-call-and-turns-toward-europe-instead-2016-10-24)

The pound was changing hands at $1.2225, up from $1.2218 late Monday in New York.

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

October 25, 2016 03:56 ET (07:56 GMT)

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