British stocks decreased on Thursday, with the benchmark FTSE 100 Index down by 0.39 percent, or 27.61 points, to close at 7,026.99 points.

Pearson, a British multinational publishing and education company, soared 3.78 percent, the top gainer of the blue chips. Randgold Resources Ltd and Diageo increased by 3.20 percent and 2.16 percent, respectively.

CRH, an international group of diversified building materials businesses, was the worst performer in the blue chips, with its shares losing 4.10 percent. Antofagasta, a copper mining company, dropped 3.50 percent. Ashtead Group, a British industrial equipment rental company, fell 3.37 percent. Enditem