Feb. 9 (Bloomberg) -- U.K. stocks resumed their advance before the Bank of England announces its latest interest rate decision and the target for its asset-purchase program.

The benchmark FTSE 100 Index advanced 0.4 percent to 5,901.07 at 8:36 a.m. in London, extending its rally this year to 5.9 percent. The FTSE All-Share Index also climbed 0.4 percent, while Ireland’s ISEQ Index lost 0.1 percent.

--Editor: Will Hadfield

To contact the reporter on this story: Will Hadfield in London at whadfield@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Andrew Rummer at arummer@bloomberg.net