The FTSE 100 index gained 57.40 points to 4,471.80 as some stocks had their best day in several months on falling oil prices and Chinese moves to not raise interest rates.
The latter helped push up prices of shares in mining companies, with hopes the decision will not pull the plug on the ongoing commodities market. Antofagasta, operator of copper mines in Chile, gained 64p to 900p. Xstrata, a coal miner, added 42p to 669.5p. Anglo American rose 67p to 1,139p. British Airways soared 13.25p to 263p after investors cheered the falling oil price, one of the two biggest operating cost factors for airlines. Bradford & Bingley added 15.5p to 283p after announcing the sale of non-core assets including its Charcol business. Rentokil dropped 24p to 1...
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