Energy sector buoys FTSE after Dow soars

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The FTSE 100 advanced in early trading on Wednesday thanks to a positive start in the energy sector.

Energy giants International Power and National Grid have each added almost 1.7%, taking them to 225p and 543p respectively, while Cairn Energy climbed 1.64% to £21.65 and Royal Dutch Shell added 1.5% to £15.56. Hedge fund Man Group is the morning's biggest winner however, adding 1.86% to 205p. London's blue chip index climbed by more than 18 points, or 0.48%, shortly before 9.30am. Early drags on the index include Aviva, which has dropped 13.11% to 232p, and technology provider Smiths Group, which has fallen 8.64% to 750.5p despite posting a £135.2m pre-tax profit. The US Treasury's $...

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