The FTSE 100 index has shrugged off poor trading to advance 20.4 points to 5013.20 points in the morning session.
The benchmark started the day up after pharmaceutical firm AstraZeneca rose up 95p 0r 4.5% to £21.68 thanks to positive reaction from US Food and Drug Administration for its cholesterol drug Crestor. Brunzl has also added 15p to 521.50p, after analysts boosted its share-price forecast. At the other end of the scale, United Utilities has shed 10.5p to 424.5p, along with William Hill, down 11.5p to 585.5p. Japan's Nikkei 225 Stock Average index also advanced 0.4% to 11,856.46, the sixth straight gain, marking its longest winning streak in more than four years and led by energy-related ...
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