The FTSE 100 closed up 14.5 points, or 0.24%, to 5,965.1, as miners dominated trading through the afternoon, keeping the FTSE out of trouble as Hanson gave back much of its earlier gains.
Hanson rallied at the start after the media reported the group is planning to split off its US building materials arm to insulate it from the threat of asbestos litigation, causing it to rose 0.8% to 747p. This news earlier excited traders, as it was believed such a move could attract the attention of the likes of French rival Lafarge, but the shares had eased back a touch by the close of play. Miners enjoyed chunky gains as metal prices improved, with Antofagasta adding 5.14% to 2,065p, Kazakhmys gaining 4.45% to 986p, and Anglo American well ahead with a rise of 2.4% to 2,047p. BHP ...
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