FTSE edges higher; 3i Group leads after strong earnings

By Atul Prakash LONDON (Reuters) - The FTSE 100 index edged higher in afternoon trading on Thursday, with encouraging updates from companies such as 3i Group supporting the broader stock market. Private-equity group 3i rose 3 percent, the top gainer in the blue-chip FTSE 100 index, after it reached the end of a three-year restructuring with strong earnings growth at its portfolio companies. The benchmark FTSE 100 index was up 0.16 percent at 6,960.55 points by 1426 London time after falling earl