FTSE slips but miners rally

BHP has advanced 20p, or 1.9%, to 1,072p, while Rio Tinto has gained 77p, or 2.6%, to 3,010p. International Power has fallen 6.5p, or 2.4%, to 267.75p and BSkyB has dropped 5.5p, or 1.1%, to 479.5p. Credit Suisse has cut its recommendation on the stock to "neutral" from "outperform". In Japan, the Nikkei 225 Stock Average gained 90.55 points, or 0.6%, to 16,551.23 after a report showing rising demand at home and abroad boosted factory production for a fifth month. Exporters such as Toyota Motor and trading companies including Mitsubishi paced the gains. Toyota gained 70 yen, or 1.2%, ...