FTSE holds firm against further falls

The FTSE 100 index has so far gained just 9.5 points or 0.2% to 6019.5 in early trading as more share values are falling than rising this morning. Imperial Chemical Industries is keeping the blue chips index afloat and has gained 5.1% to 289p after posting a first-quarter profit of £65m – above analysts expectations. Dragging the index down, however, is AstraZeneca, the UK's second-largest pharmaceutical firm, as it has lost 1.6% to £29.28. The company has announced it will stop development of a new diabetes treatment after studies revealed it is unlikely to offer “significant advantage''...