FTSE buoyed by confidence in Numis

Shares in the brokerage firm have gained 60p, to a three- month high of 615p. Numis has doubled the size of its corporate broking team in the past 12 months while picking up the number of corporate clients to 70, the company said earlier in the year. Shares in Unite Group, a provider of housing for 26,000 college students across the UK, also climbed after the company sold four properties. Sporting-goods retailer, JJB Sports lost 48.5p, to 195.5p, the biggest drop since July 2002. JJB said it ended possible takeover talks. LA Fitness meanwhile, climbed 5.5p to 181.5p. Asian stocks f...