Bid news for ICI gives FTSE a good start

A bid to buy ICI, the chemicals company, has lifted the FTSE in early trading this morning to place the FTSE 100 up 1.1% to 4063.8. Interest in Imperial Chemical Industries has been sparked by a German magazine which reports German firm Henkel KgaA, which makes Persil among other products, may buy one of the divisions. As a result, ICI's share price is up 7.25p or 5.9% to 131p. Other firms are looking pretty good too as Logica, the computer services group who shares were earlier up 2.75p or 1.9% to 147p is reported to be selling its radio planning business to a dutch rival, accord...