FTSE high on Boots merger prescription

Leading the benchmark is a Boots amd Alliance Unichem merger providing the early excitement. In Japan, stocks fell after the Bank of Japan's Tankan survey showed weaker-than-expected confidence among the nation's largest manufacturers. Banks including Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group led the declines. The Nikkei 225 Stock Average lost 49.02 points, or 0.4% to 13,525.28 at its close in Tokyo a short while ago. Mitsubishi UFJ Financial, the world's largest bank, with 10% more assets than closest rival Citigroup, dropped 7,000 yen, or 4.7%, to 1.42 million. Mitsui Trust Holdings, Japan's s...