Brexit optimism breathes life into UK-focussed stocks

(Reuters) - UK stocks ended Friday on a high note as optimism that a no-deal Brexit could be avoided spurred a rally in stocks with domestic exposure, overpowering losses in blue-chip exporter stocks that were hit by a stronger sterling. The FTSE 100 rose 0.3%, with homebuilder Barratt jumping nearly 6% to top the gainers. The country's big banks Lloyds , Royal Bank of Scotland and Barclays added more than 5%. The mid-cap index climbed 1.2% to a near one-year high, tracking gains in the..