FTSE ahead on A&L takeover talk

Alliance & Leicester is soaring after reportedly holding takeover talks with Spanish banking giant Santander last month. The lender is currently 7.87% ahead, to 699. British Land is also positive on expected interest rate cuts, up 2.38% to 967.50; while mining giant Vedanta Resources is doing well, so far ahead 2.05% to 2088. The UK’s largest security company Group 4 Securicor is lower, down 1.74% to 240.50; while Cairn Energy is 1.72% behind, to 3021. In New York, the markets closed 2007 down 101.05 points (0.76%) to 13264.82. American Express thrived on a solid day for financials, l...