Financials give FTSE a lift

Royal Bank of Scotland, the UK's second-largest bank, has risen 58p, or 3.2%, to 18898. The bank said 2006 earnings will jump more than 11%, helped by corporate lending and a drop in bad loans as a proportion of revenue. Man Group, the world's largest publicly listed hedge-fund manager, has advanced 6.5p, or 1.4%, to 486.5p. While Legal & General Group has also climbed 3.25p, or 2.2%, to 154.75p. Mining stocks are on the rise after copper gained for the first time in three days in Asia. Lonmin, the world's third-biggest platinum producer, added 44p or 1.4 %, to 3215p. Copper for de...