FTSE up despite mining slump

The FTSE 100 is up 0.15% to 6421.9 but the biggest loser was Anglo-American, which provides financial services to the mining sector, which dropped 1.27% to £25.69. This was closely followed by communications firm Vodafone Group, which dropped 1% to 149p. The day’s next biggest loser was international brewing firm Scottish & Newcastle, which dropped 1% to 546.5p. However, these losses were stemmed by the Alliance & Leicester bank, which rose 6.29% to £11.33 and the Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance Group, which jumped 2.53% to 172p. Imperial Tobacco Group also made strong gains, rising 2.45...