British shares gained on Thursday, with the benchmark FTSE 100 Index up by 0.72 percent, or 49.82 points, to close at 6,999.01 points.

Shares of Centrica increased by 5.62 percent, topped the gainers of the blue chips.

Royal Bank of Scotland Group, International Consolidated Airlines Group, GKN and Barclays gained by 4.42 percent, 3.87 percent, 3.60 percent and 3.47 percent respectively.

Randgold Resources led the losers of the blue chips by shedding 7.91 percent, followed by Fresnillo (5.59 percent), Antofagasta (5.20 percent), Anglo American (3.99 percent) and BHP Billiton (3.21 percent).