Mining stocks lift FTSE

Rio has added 71p or 3.5% to 1986p, after its first-half profit increased 34% as output and prices for iron ore and metals climbed. Riding on its back, Antofagasta has climbed 47p to 1393p, after analysts nodded approval for oil stocks providing ‘good value’. BHP Billiton and Xstrata have also picked up 27p to 837p and 32p to 1245p respectively. Building materials firm BPB has reached 26p higher to 734p, after French building materials firm, Saint-Gobain launched a £3.68bn takeover bid for the company. On the losing end, business news analyst Reuters Group has shed 16.25p or 4% to...