The FTSE 100 index is up about 9 points to 4,405 after strong overnight gains in the US linked to Federal Reserve statements about maintaining existing record low interest rates.
Rolls Royce shares rose 14.75p to 200p after the company reported a doubling of second half profit. BAE Systems is up 9.25p to 175.25p after reports the UK and French governments may share the costs of new aircraft carriers ordered by the UK’s Ministry of Defence. Unilever is up 19p to 552p after chairman Niall FitzGerald confirmed he would step down by September after nearly four decades at the company. Vodafone is up 3p to 134.75p after some investors started buying into its plans to acquire AT&T Wireless in the US for about $30bn. Barclays reported a 20% rise in profits for l...
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