The FTSE 100 UKX, +0.28% rose 0.6% to 6,616.94, looking for a sixth consecutive advance.
Unilever ULVR, +0.64% shares rose 1.2% as the company agreed to buy the Zest and Camay soap brands from Procter & Gamble Co. PG, +0.60% for an undisclosed amount. The brands logged revenue of $225 million in the last fiscal year, said Unilever. The sale is expected to close in the first half of 2015.
But losing ground was BG Group PLC BG., -0.98% down 2.2% after Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services said it may downgrade the A- corporate credit rating of the BG Energy subsidiary oil producer.
“We could downgrade the company by one notch if we foresee a further substantial rise in debt in 2015, or if oil prices remain below our current 2015 average price assumption,” S&P said in a statement late Monday.
S&P also outlined concerns about highly rated oil and gas companies including Royal Dutch Shell PLC RDSB, +0.22% and BP PLC BP., +0.10% Shares of Royal Dutch were higher by 0.8% and BP rose 0.5%, as oil prices edged higher.
Outside the main index, shares in Thorntons THT, -22.60% slumped 25% as the chocolate maker warned it now expects earnings in fiscal 2015 to be below those of the previous year.
