Chinese deal for BAT improves FTSE

The FTSE 100 index is currently up 9.1 points or 0.2% to 4349 while the FTSE All Share index gained 0.2% to 2168 and the FTSE 250 index is also up 0.2% to 6057. BAT is up 21.5p or 2.6% to 863.5p after the Chinese government approved a joint venture deal in Asia and opened the doors to the world’s largest cigarette market. Vodafone is also having a good day and has climbed 1.25p or 1% to 121.25p, perhaps in part because the national press are suggesting flotation of Virgin Mobile may require a lower starting price – good news for its rival Vodafone. British American Tobacco, the sec...