The FTSE 100 Index gained 54 points, or 1.0%, to 6,082 points today, led by commodity stocks.
Oil major Cairn Energy rose 5.25% to 2,448p after Merrill Lynch upgraded the shares to "buy" from "neutral" citing valuation grounds. BP gained 1.70% to 688p and BG, which announced an exploration deal with Oman, rose 3.60% to 763.50p as crude oil traded above $74 a barrel despite concerns over supplies in Bolivia. Kazakhmys and Xstrata led the mining sector higher on hopes of further rises in metal prices, gaining 4.92% to 1,194.50p and 3.98% to 2,063p respectively. London Scottish Bank advanced 5.94% to 107p after it received an increased conditional proposal from Promethean Inve...
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