The FTSE 100 index gained 92 points, or 1.7%, to 5,665 points today, led by miners after Merrill Lynch hiked commodity price forecasts.
Kazakhmys gained 2.19% to 1,028p, Xstrata rose 4.30% to 1,893p, Rio Tinto advanced 2.95% to 2,656p and BHP Billiton added 3.26% to 966p. Bradford & Bingley rose 2.06% to 458.50p after it was upgraded to “neutral” from “sell” by analysts at Merrill Lynch, who said the group could benefit if Credit Agricole continues upping its stake in rival Alliance & Leicester. Alliance & Leicester also rose 0.61% to 1,164p, while Northern Rock gained 3.82% to 1,005p. Fund manager Man Group advanced 2.67% to 2,342p after Bridgewell upgraded the group to "buy", saying the shares had been hit hard b...
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