FTSE rises as Northern Rock talks push share price

Northern Rock rose 10.9 points, or 5.83%, to 196.2p astakeover talks continue. Persimmon rose 41.5 points, or 4.37%, to 990.5p. Alliance & Leicester rose 30 points, or 4.12%, to 757.5p. Antofagasta rose 29.5 points, or 3.78%, to 810p. Home Retail rose 14.25 points, or 3.75%, to 394.25p. British American Tobacco fell nine points, or 0.5%, to 1776p. Reed Elsevier fell 2.5 points, or 0.42%, to 599p. Vodafone fell 0.7 points, or 0.39%, to 179p. SABMiller fell four points, or 0.28%, to 1432p. National Grid fell one point, or 0.13%, to 778p. The Dow Jones rose 44.95 points, or 0.33%, to...