Next bid pushes FTSE higher

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The FTSE 100 has started the day up 28 points, or 0.45%, to 6,319.9, as bid speculation and a strong demand for miners is pushing the index higher.

Next is posting the biggest gains with a rise of 3.32% to £23.02, following reports of a £25 per share bid offer, while Smith & Nephew is also one of the leading stocks with a rise of 1.85% to 660p. Miners are also performing well with Kazakhmys up 1.73% to £11.73, closely followed by Rio Tinto which has added 1.72% to £28.94, while BHP Billiton has climbed 1.71% to £11.28. However Wolseley is the biggest loser with a drop of 1.6% to £12.29, closely followed by Barclays which has declined 1.08% to 733.5p, Cadburys Schweppes has slipped 0.93% to 641.5p, Intercontinental Hotels has drop...

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