LONDON, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- British stocks decreased on Friday, with the benchmark FTSE 100 Index down 78.26 points or 1.09 percent at 7,092.43 points.

Direct Line Insurance Group, a British insurance company, soared 2.71 percent, the top gainer of the blue chips. Admiral Group and Paddy Power Betfair rose by 1.81 percent and 1.56 percent respectively.

Johnson Matthey, a British speciality chemicals company, was the worst performer in the blue chips, with its shares losing 4.34 percent. Pearson, a multinational publishing and education company, dropped 3.26 percent. Royal Bank of Scotland Group dropped 3.21 percent. Enditem