LONDON, March 29 (Xinhua) -- British stocks rose on Thursday, with the benchmark FTSE 100 Index up 11.87 points, or 0.17 percent at 7,056.61 points.

GKN, an automotive and aerospace components company, soared 9.46 percent, the top gainer of the blue chips. Mediclinic International and International Consolidated Airlines Group rose by 5.11 percent and 2.95 percent, respectively.

Compass Group, a catering and support services supplier, was the worst performer in the blue chips, with its shares losing 1.99 percent. Johnson Matthey, a British speciality chemicals company, dropped 1.62 percent. Ferguson, a heating and plumbing products business, dropped 1.58 percent. Enditem