Hanson puts FTSE back on track

The sand and gravel firm advanced 20.5p or 4% to 520.5p, as US senators neared an agreement on a fund to compensate victims of asbestos. Hanson has set aside $400m to cover claims. Logistics firm Exel has dropped 9.5p to 881p, while mining firms BP lost 4.5p to 551p, with BHP Billiton falling 5p to 707.5p. Shell Transport and Trading Co also slipped 2.5p to 484p. In Tokyo the Nikkei 225 Stock Average lost 0.3% to 11,637.52, as retailers Takashimaya, Kanebo and Ito-Yokado accounted for about 13% of the drop. Department store, Takashimaya fell 3.7% to 1,016 yen, after predicting a dro...