FTSE benchmark smokin' to four year high

The blue chip stocks index is led in early trading by Cairn Energy and mining giant Anglo American. Cairn Energy has advanced 85p, or 4.4%, to £19.99 after the oil exploration and production company says first-half profit rose 2% to £24m thanks to production gains in India and a sales boost through record oil prices. Anglo American, the world's second-biggest mining company, has also climbed 20p or 1.3%, to 1,584p.after analysts this morning raised recommendation on the shares to “buy” from “hold”. In Japan, the Nikkei 225 Stock Average climbed 189.89 points, or 1.5%, to 13,148.57 a...