The FTSE 100 has broken back through the 6,400 barrier ending the session with gains of 20.6 points, or 0.32%, to 6,401.5, as investors focused on commodity and utility stocks.
Mining firm Xstrata posted the biggest gains with a rise of 3.58% to £26.64, closely followed by power group Drax which climbed 3.28% to 739.5p, as rumours of a private equity bid continued to circulate. Oil giant BP also performed well with a rise of 2.78% to 535p, while ITV added 2.69% to 114.5p, and Whitbread advanced 1.91% to £17.08, although gains were limited by Reuters which slipped 1.63% to 423.5p. Lloyds TSB was the biggest drag on the index with a fall of 3.43% to 592p, as some investors were disappointed by its outlook statement, while Old Mutual dropped 1.76% to 181.5p, Carn...
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