LIVE MARKETS-FTSE edges toward record as healthcare stocks surge

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FTSE EDGES TOWARD RECORD AS HEALTHCARE STOCKS SURGE

European shares kicked off the week on a positive note, with strength in select healthcare stocks supporting the broader market and pushing London's FTSE 100 close to its previous peak.

The UK's benchmark index .FTSE rose 0.5%, trading just a few points shy of the record high reached in August, while the pan-European STOXX 600 .STOXX added 0.3%.

Healthcare .SXDP, which has underperformed this year amid uncertainty over tariffs and U.S. drug pricing policy, provided the biggest boost to both indices.

In London, GSK GSK.L jumped nearly 4% after insider Luke Miels was named to succeed Emma Walmsley as CEO in January, ending her nine-year tenure. Heavyweight AstraZeneca AZN.L gained more than 1% on plans to list directly on the NYSE.

Biopharma firm UCB UCB.BR surged over 20% at one point in Brussels BEL20, lifted by disappointing trial results from rival MoonLake Immunotherapeutics' skin disease treatment.

Financials and energy were a drag. Miners and tech rose.

(Danilo Masoni)

EARLIER ON LIVE MARKETS:

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