RBS takes FTSE higher

RBS gained 4.13% to £19.16 after it said results are running slightly ahead of expectations and bad debts have improved over the last year, while HBOS rose 1.06% to £10.48. Persimmon rose 2.30% to £15.14 on a bullish review of the housebuilding sector by Dutch broker ABN Amro. Redrow gained 1.89% to £7 and Bovis Homes rose 1.78% to £10.59 after they were tipped as potential takeover targets. In the US, the Dow Jones industrial average is down 17.54 points, or 0.14%, at 12,314.06 points, led by losses in technology shares. Oracle shares have fallen 3.7% to $18.16, while shares of...