Miners talk up FTSE

Higher metal prices and reports suggesting Brazil's CVRD, Xstrata and Rio Tinto are lining up a break-up bid for Anglo American worth $80bn took miners higher. Anglo American gained 3.63% to 2,455p, Xstrata rose 1.03% to 2,253p and Rio Tinto advanced 1.25% to 2,756p. BHP Billiton gained 1.74% to 1,050p on talk it is mulling a return of as much as $3bn to shareholders. Financial firms trimmed this morning's losses, with Northern Rock ending down 0.63% at 1,110p, while Standard Chartered declined 1.05% to 1,316p and HSBC fell 0.89% to 945p. In the US, the Dow Jones Industrial Aver...