RBS and Billiton profits strengthens the FTSE

The FTSE 100 index was up 19 points or 0.4% to 4462 within the first hour of trading, along with the FTSE All-Share index which is also up 0.4% to 2230. Royal Bank of Scotland has so far gained 36p to 1,671 after revealing its 2003 net income increased 17% to £2.32bn thanks to new acquisitions and an increase in UK lending. Any gain for RBS is significant as it accounts for 4.5% of FTSE 100 shares. BHP Billiton, the world’s largest mining company, also gained 14p or 2.9% to 493.5 after announcing its fiscal second-quarter profit doubled on the back of metals and iron ore purchases in...