FTSE high on Pharmaceuticals

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In the UK the FTSE 100 Index has climbed 30.80 points to 5301.10 this morning, led by AstraZeneca.

The Pharmaceuticals firm shot up 103 points, or 4%, to 2583p, after raising its guidance for full-year earnings by 17% as a result of a 50% increase in quarterly profit. British American Tobacco is also 28p higher to 1124p, after posting a 37% increase in its quarterly earnings. On the losing end, Lloyds TSB has retreated 11.5p to 477.5p, despite a 9% increase in first-half profit. Friends Provident is also down 2.75p to 183.25p, despite a 33% increase in the sale of life insurance and pensions in the first half. In Tokyo the Nikkei 225 Stock Average picked up 0.4% to 11,899.60, its...

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