The FTSE 100 Index rose 33.10, or 0.58%, to 5714.60 today led by clothes retailer Next, which jumped 10.31% to 1,650p, in its biggest advance since March 2001.
Prudential also rose to a three-year high on speculation the insurer may be a takeover target, gaining 35.00p, or 6.26%, to 594.50p. BAE Systems gained 9.25p, or 2.39%, to 395.75p, the highest since Sept 2000, while CSFB raised its share-price estimate 18% to 430p, citing a UK agreement to supply Saudi Arabia with Eurofighter jets. Mining stocks rose as copper climbed to a record in London: shares of BHP Billiton added 0.88% to 972p, Rio Tinto Group gained 0.59% to 2,719p and Vedanta Resources Plc, a producer of copper and zinc in India, climbed 2.92% to 934.50p. Meanwhile, HBOS slipp...
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