FTSE runs with Vodafone about-face

Admission that it will not pursue the massive acquisition pushed Vodafone shares up 7.75p to 140.25p, one of its biggest one-day gains in the past year, and one which single-handedly added more than 22 points to the index’ value. Reuters is up 32.5p or about 9% to 395p after reporting a return to full-year profitability against a loss reported at this time last year. Analysts had expected another year of slim net losses. Scottish & Newcastle is up 3.5p to 423p after announcing it is to shut its only brewery in Scotland as a result of slumping beer sales. Bradford & Bingley is down ...