12 February 2021 | 16:43pm StockMarketWire.com - UK stocks closed significantly higher on Friday after it emerged coronavirus cases across the country are falling at the fastest pace in months. The UK's R value has dropped below 1 for the first time since July, and the Government has confirmed it will issue its roadmap out of lockdown on 22 February. The UK's benchmark FTSE 100 index gained 0.94% to 6,589.79, while the midcap FTSE 250 index swung into positive territory having spent most of the day in the red and closed 0.09% higher to 21,037.47. In a day of little significant corporate news, airline and package holiday provider Jet2 fell 7.24% to £12.04 after it raised £422 million by issuing new shares at a 9% discount to last night's closing price to help see it through the crisis. The company said the fundraise was 'significantly oversubscribed'.