Miners boost FTSE

Kazakhmys has risen 4.9% to 1,000p, after posting a 25% gain in 2005 profit on record metal prices. BHP Billiton has climbed 1.9% to 1,042p and Rio Tinto has risen 1.5% to 2,872p. Boots has reported the first increase in same-store sales in five quarters as price cuts tempted customers. The shares have climbed 2.7% to 731.5p. Meanwhile, London Stock Exchange has dropped 8.6% to 1,024p after the Nasdaq pulled its offer of 950p a share. In Japan, the Nikkei 225 Stock Average gained 106.93 points, or 0.6%, to 17,045.34 points - the highest level in more than five years. Mitsubis...