FTSE back near record high as utility stocks rise

By Francesco Canepa and Lionel Laurent LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's top equity index pushed higher on Thursday, boosted by a bump-up for utilities stocks just two weeks before a general election, while mining stocks also outperformed. United Utilities climbed 1.1 percent, SSE advanced 1.4 percent and National Grid rose 0.6 percent after investment bank Citigroup said the sector would be favoured as a protection against any market volatility caused by the election. Utility stocks are often p