Unilever helps prise up FTSE

Unilever was one of the earliest movers, jumping 102p, or 6.78%, to £16.06, while Prudential, up 20.5p, or 3.02%, to 698.5p, and SABMiller, up 31 points, or 2.52%, to £12.61, also helped push the FTSE forward. Early gains are being stemmed however by losses for Mitchells & But, down 30.5p, or 4.08%, to 717.5p, Punch Taverns, down 30 points, or 2.69%, to £10.86, and Whitbread, down 27p to £16.26. In the US, a strong start on the Dow Jones just got stronger as the index finished up 150.38 points, or 1.14%, to 13362.37. Merck & Co helped the Dow Jones on its way, jumping 1.37 points to 51.0...