FTSE rises with oil

BP has so far gained 6p or 0.9% to 641p and Shell has gained 15p, or 0.9% to 1773p as the crude oil price for April delivery is trading 35 cents higher, or 0.6%, at $63.71 a barrel. BT has also added 2% to 212.25p as the Times says the company is being targeted by several global private equity firms, which may lead to bids valuing BT at over £20bn. In Japan, the Nikkei 225 Stock Average index dropped 246.42 points or 1.6% to 15,663.34 points after an inflation report raised speculation the Bank of Japan is getting closer to lifting borrowing costs. Mitsubishi UFJ, the world's biggest l...