Tobacco and ITV lead FTSE gains

A ratings upgrade from Deutsche Bank for British American Tobacco as well as improved sales for ITV has put a little confidence back into the FTSE 100 which was trading up around 0.4% to 4485 within the first hour. The FTSE 250 index is currently up 0.2% to 6179 while the FTSE All-Share index has gained 0.5% to 2236. British American is so far up 48p or 5.8% to 871.5p, giving the firm its highest price since the company floated in 1998. Confidence is high after the US federal antitrust office approved R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Holdings’ $3bn takeover of the BAT’s US division. ITV is also...