The FTSE 100 index has got off to a comfortable start with gains of 19.5 points or 0.35% to 5,536.9, with Antofagasta currently leading the advance.
Mining giant Antofagasta has earned 30p or 1.71% to £17.84, while Rio Tinto has advanced 12p or 0.48% to £25.03. Yell is also performing well with a rise of 8.5p or 1.69% to 511.25p. Shares in banking group Lloyds TSB have also gained 2p to 484.75p, despite news of revenue growth being slightly offset by concerns the firm has seen lower levels of growth in unsecured lending and a further deterioration in credit quality, resulting in increased bad debts as a percentage of average lending in the second half of the year. Among utilities, Centrica is up 2.5% to 239.75p, while Scottish & So...
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