The FTSE 100 index is up about 13 points to 4,538 this morning, led upwards by bank stocks offsetting the anchoring effect of the oil and gas sector.
British Airways is flying highest, adding 13.5p to 325p after Citigroup upgraded its share price target on the stock to 450p. Royal & Sun Alliance is up 2.75p to 106.75p after rumours Finnish bank Sampo may bid for a Danish insurer in which the UK firm has a controlling stake. HBOS is up 11.5p to 745p, leading the main clearing banks. LloydsTSB is up 6p to 449p, while Standard Chartered is up 11.5p to 946.5p. National Grid Transco is up 2.5p to 427.75p even as it has announced that supplies of natural gas from North Sea oil fields is becoming less reliable as the fields become d...
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