FTSE rises on bid chat

Pearson led the risers, up 3.85% at £8.63, on private equity break-up rumours. Barclays gained 2.57% to £7.58 as traders followed up a story that Citigroup could bid for ABN Amro by suggesting the US bank is really after Barclays and talk about a deal with ABN could be a smokescreen. BP rose 2.74% to £5.43 and Shell advanced 2.01% to £16.75 following the $2 per barrel rise in crude prices in New York on Thursday. A rise in copper prices also lifted Kazakhmys up 1.75% to £11.68. On the downside, British Airways fell 1.33% to £5.19 amid concern about the Open Skies deal signed yesterd...