Boots give FTSE a good grip

Press reports propelled Boots up 4.25% to 675p on talk the retailer is considering a joint bid approach from private equity groups Apax Partners, CVC Capital Partners and Texas Pacific. Cable & Wireless gained 3.85% to 101.25p on news the UK operations could be snapped up by Thus and finance director Charles Herlinger was seen following CEO Francesco Caio out of the door following last weeks profit warning. Lloyds TSB also jumped 0.86% to 525.50p on talk it is under the eye of Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria after news the Spanish bank lost out in the race to buy French peer BNP Paribas...