BRUSSELS/FRANKFURT/PARIS (dpa-AFX) - U.K. stocks opened higher on Friday, with miners and energy stocks leading the surge after China lowered the five-year loan prime rate, a benchmark reference rate for mortgages, by a record amount.
Sentiment was also underpinned after data showed U.K. retail sales expanded 1.4 percent monthly in April, reversing a revised 1.2 percent decline in March. Sales were forecast to drop 0.2 percent in April.
Investors shrugged off separate data showing that confidence among British consumers fell in May to its lowest level in at least five decades.
The benchmark FTSE 100 climbed 134 points, or 1.8 percent, to 7,437 after tumbling 1.8 percent on Thursday.
Anglo American, Glencore, Royal Dutch Shell and BP Plc rose 2-3 percent.
Online retail group THG soared 22 percent after rejecting a £2.07bn bid from two investment companies.
Likewise, M&C Saatchi shares jumped 37 percent after the advertising group agreed a takeover by consultancy Next Fifteen Communications.
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