Banks push FTSE to make good gains

Travis Perkins, a building materials group, has fallen 151p, or 10.69%, to 1,262p, as it said market conditions had worsened significantly in recent weeks. Kingfisher, the owner of B&Q home-improvement stores, also fell 8p, or 3.66%, to 210.5p, while plumbing and heating equipment supplier Wolseley has slipped 11p, or 0.92%, to 1,185p. In the banking sector, the Royal Bank of Scotland has jumped 28p, or 1.71%, to 1,662p, while Lloyds TSB advanced 7.75p, or 1.67%, to 471p, after renewed reports that it was discussing a possible merger of its asset management unit with Fortis. Elsewhere, ...