London"s blue-chip stockswere little changed on Friday but finished the week lower as growing concerns over a surge in global coronavirus cases eclipsed optimism from recent data pointing to a rapid UK economic rebound. The exporter-heavy index (.FTSE) ended the session flat, with a fall in heavyweight energy shares and large dollar earning companies including Diageo (DGE.L), AstraZeneca (AZN.L) and Reckitt Benckiser Group (RKT.L) weighing on the index. Sectors tied to economic outlook, including miners (.FTNMX551020) and banks (.FTNMX301010) and travel and leisure (.FTNMX405010) outperformed during the session. Latest data showed a deluge of new orders swept through British businesses in April as the country lifted some COVID-19 restrictions. read more The report comes on the heels of a survey showing consumer sentiment touching a 13-month high this month, and a report showing retail sales soared past expectations in March. read more "Collectively this week"s data – from PMIs to retail sales – suggests that the hit to first quarter GDP from the recent lockdowns has been milder than first thought, but also that we should be bracing for a strong, circa 5% bounce in economic activity during the second quarter," economists at ING wrote in a note. The FTSE 100 has gained 7.4% so far this year on optimism that speedy COVID-19 vaccinations and constant policy support from the government would drive a stronger economic recovery. However, it is set for its biggest weekly decline since the end of February as a recent spike in cases in parts of Asia has stoked fears of delayed global economic recovery. The domestically focussed mid-cap FTSE 250 index (.FTMC) posted its first weekly drop in five. Transport operator FirstGroup"s shares (FGP.L) gained 4.4% after the company agreed to sell two North American bus businesses to EQT Infrastructure for $4.6 billion, including debt. read moreFirstGroup (FGP.L) agreed to sell two North American bus businesses for $4.6 billion including debt to Swedish private equity firm EQT Infrastructure on Friday, to focus on its bus and rail operations in the UK. Shares in the FTSE 250 firm, operating First Bus and four train contracts in Britain, surged as much 19% to hit a more than one year high before paring to trade 8% higherby 1057 GMT. "We see the disposal as a clear positive, allowing the group to be simplified, with reduced leverage and legacy liabilities addressed," Liberum analysts said. The company plans to use proceeds to pay down debt, including UK government coronavirus aid, contribute to its UK pension schemes and return money to shareholders. It had net debt of about 2.96 billion pounds ($4.11 billion) as of the end of September 2020. About 365 million pounds of the receipts from the sale or 30 pence per share has been earmarked to return to shareholders in 2021, it said. Aberdeen-headquartered FirstGroup began the sale process for the FirstStudent and FirstTransit businesses a year ago, following pressure from major shareholder Coast Capital. Its popular Greyhound intercity coach service was also put up for sale in 2019 but the company has yet to find a buyer. EQT said it would invest in operational technology and fleet decarbonisation of the around 43,000 yellow school buses and 14,000 other vehicles owned and operated by the businesses. FirstGroup, which like other transport operators has seen a collapse in passenger numbers due to pandemic restrictions, on Friday guided to annual profit ahead of its prior expectations. Shares in FirstGroup have outperformed its UK peers National Express (NEX.L), StageCoach(SGC.L)and Go-Ahead(GOG.L)in the past 12 months. "As economies begin to emerge from the pandemic restrictions and society begins the process of building back better, the vital role of public transport is clear," CEO Matthew Gregory said. Sky News first reported the divestment late on Thursday.