Energy companies take FTSE higher

BP has added 0.3% to 614p and BG Group has gained 0.6% to 683.5p as oil trades above $71 a barrel for a second day. Meanwhile, Antofagasta has declined 1.5% to 1,863p and Kazakhmys has declined 2.3% to 1,004p after copper futures staged their biggest three-day decline since October 2004 on concern a rally which drove the metal to a record last month was overdone. In Japan, the Nikkei 225 Stock Average gained 82.17 points, or 0.6% to 14,833.01 points after a government report showed first-quarter economic growth was buoyed by corporate investment and consumer spending. Aeon jumped 75 y...