FTSE climbs in early trading

DSG International leads the early runners, climbing 7.3p, or 6.04%, to 128.2p. The chasing pack includes Mitchells & But, up 32.5p to 657.5p, and Persimmon, up 42 points, or 4.21%, to £10.40. These gains are being stemmed by losses for Royal Dutch Shell B, down 36p, or 1.71%, to £20.66, and Unilever, down 27p to £16.25. Barratt Developments, down 10p, or 1.54%, to 639p, is also among the morning’s early losers. In the US, the Dow Jones closed down 77.79 points, or 0.56%, to 13792.47. Microsoft Corporation, up one point, or 2.89%, to 35.57, finished as the day’s top winner. It was cl...