Gazprom news drives FTSE rally

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The FTSE began the week with a rally led by Centrica after OAO Gazprom, the world's biggest natural gas supplier, said it expects to make a British acquisition ‘in the near future'.

Other strong performers were mining companies led by Rio Tinto Group following a report from UBS AG suggesting M&A activity in the industry is likely to accelerate. The FTSE 100 Index rallied 36.6, or 0.6% to 6541.7 in London while the FTSE All-Share Index was up 0.5% to 3381.66. Barclays gained 2.4% to 740 pence after the Wall Street Journal reported hedge fund Atticus Capital has bought shares of the company and met with the bank to discuss dropping its bid for ABN Amro Holding NV. BAE Systems, Europe's biggest weapons maker was another riser up 1.2% to 431.75 pence. Japanese indic...

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