LONDON, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- British stocks rose on Thursday, with the benchmark FTSE 100 Index up 24.77 points or 0.32 percent at 7,695.88 points.

NMC Health, the multinational health care company, soared 5.48 percent, the top gainer of the blue chips. G4S and Worldpay Group increased by 3.24 percent and 3.03 percent, respectively.

The British clothing and food retailer Marks & Spencer Group was the worst performer in the blue chips, with its shares losing 3.65 percent. Hammerson, the major British property development and investment company, dropped 2.52 percent. Land Securities Group, the major commercial property development and investment company, dropped 2.37 percent. Enditem