FTSE rises ahead of US investment plan

At 8.30am the blue-chip index was up 51.38 points (1.34%) to 3,894.23 with all sectors in the black. The impending launch of the US Treasury's Public Private Investment Program plan saw Barclays up 6.86% to 112.20 - assisted by rumours the banking giant plans to sell its iShares unit for $5bn - while Lloyds continued to rally, rising 6.51% to 58.90. Insurers also benefited from the news. Concerns for L&G's capital base and dividend rates were tempered with the insurance giant up 6.07% to 45.40 while Old Mutual rose 10.05% to 48.20. The consumers sector topped the gainers, with special...