FTSE in positive start bolstered by US performance

The engineering firm has profited 20p to 864.50p, while plumbing and heating firm Wolseley is also up 20p to 11.07p. Shire Pharmaceuticals meanwhile has shed 13.50p to 546p. The company says it will purchase an American biotechnology company to broaden its range of medicine. The Nikkei 225 Stock Average picked up 0.6% to 11,045.95 at its close early this morning, led by exporters after appositive turnaround in stocks in the US. Car manufacturer Honda increased 1.2% to 5,230 yen, while games consul firm Nintendo, rose 2% to 11,790 yen. More than a quarter of its sales came from North A...