Merger talks push Friends Provident shares

Friends Provident rose 14.1 points, or 7.56%, to 200.5p amid talks of an £8.4bn merger with insurer Resolution. Resolution rose 13 points, or 2.07%, to 642p. Barclays shares rose 14 points, or 1.96%, to 727.5p after it increased its offer for Dutch bank ABN Amro to £45.4bn. Legal & General rose6.2 points, or 4.1%, to 157.4p. Prudential increased by 15 points, or 2.07%, to 738.5p. Barclays rose 14 points, or 1.96%, to 727.5p. Lonmin plummeted 50 points, or 1.36%, to 3635p. Johnson Matthey dropped 30 points, or 1.66%, to 1780p. British Land fell 20 points, or 1.47%, to 1336p. Home ...