FTSE up in early trading session
The FTSE 100 Index was looking for a eleventh winning session in a row as gains in Asia kicked off trading on the front foot.
Hong Kong's Hang Seng and Japan's Nikkei 225 both added more than 1% overnight, with oil prices also creeping back towards 70 dollars a barrel as investors were cheered by better than expected corporate results.
The top flight was 19.4 points better at 4596 in early trading with banking and commodity stocks offering support.
The London market was led higher by Financial Times and Penguin publishing firm Pearson, which soared 55p to 661p or 9% after the group said it was trading ahead of expectations so far this year.
It was followed higher by miner Lonmin, which added almost 5% or 58p to 1301p after an upgrade from Goldman Sachs amid widespread gains for commodity stocks.
Life insurer Friends Provident shed 1.03p to 69.75p after shunning another approach from investment firm Resolution and ending talks.
In the FTSE 250, transport group National Express added 5% or 17.5p to 363.25p after rival Stagecoach said it was in talks with another bid team over a possible break-up of the group.
- Post:
- del.icio.us
- Digg
- Netscape
- Newsvine
- Now Public
- Q&A
{ JOIN the CONVERSATION }
WRITE A COMMENT
Guidelines At A Glance
Below are some quick guidelines to note when posting comments on AOL.