Big tobacco pushes FTSE

BAT is up 25.5p to 999.5p after reporting a 24% rise in quarterly profits on strong sales of cigarettes in countries such as Russia. Its brands include Dunhill, Kent, Pall Mall and Lucky Strike. Reuters is up 7.5p to 392.5p after the news and financial data group was reported in Italian media to have drawn back from a bid for Rome-based MTS, which handles half of all electronic trading in European government bonds. Royal & Sun Alliance has gained 0.75p to 77p after announcing a new chief executive of its UK operations from rival Aviva. Bridget McIntyre is currently director of sales,...