LONDON, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- British stocks decreased on Friday, with the benchmark FTSE 100 Index down 7.98 points or 0.11 percent at 7,244.41 points.

BT Group, the British multinational telecommunications services company, soared 5.04 percent, the top gainer of the blue chips. United Utilities Group and Severn Trent rose by 3.43 percent and 3.27 percent, respectively.

International Consolidated Airlines Group was the worst performer in the blue chips, with its shares losing 5.69 percent. Royal Bank of Scotland Group dropped 4.82 percent. Smurfit Kappa Group, a Europe's leading corrugated packaging company, dropped 3.85 percent. Enditem