L&G give FTSE added boost

Despite reaching earlier highs, the FTSE also received a last minute boost as a labour market report from the US eased fears about the economy, to fend off the drag by oil shares. Legal & General ended the day as the best performer with gains of 3.04% to 135.5p, while Xstrata added 2.93% to 2,427p after it received a broker upgrade, while other miners were helped as the strike at the Escondida mine in Chile came to an end after the two parties agreed on a pay deal. Meanwhile vague bid talk drove up the utility sector with Drax adding 2.78% to 925p, while British Energy gained 2.98% to...