The FTSE 100 Index gained 23.50 points, or 0.40%, to 5959.20 points today led by BG Group and J Sainsbury after a bright start in the US.
BG gained 4.34% to 734p on talk ExxonMobil is lining up a 900p per share offer for the UK group. Sainsbury rose 1.61% to 332.25p as it notched up a fifth straight quarter of growth, beating forecasts. Fourth-quarter like-for-like sales excluding fuel rose 5.3%, compared with forecasts of 2.5%-4% and a figure of 5.2% in the previous quarter. Millfield jumped 8.96% to 9.12p after the IFA confirmed it has received a preliminary approach from a third party regarding a possible offer for the company. Alliance & Leicester was up 0.93% to 1,190p as speculation about a bid from Spain's Banco ...
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