Miners stifle early FTSE gains

Banking and insurance stocks led the FTSE 100 to a near 13-point, or 0.3% gain, to 4,396.36 but interdealer broker ICAP advanced the most with a 14p, or 3.4%, rise to 425.5p. Royal Bank of Scotland Group climbed 1.2p, or 3.32%, to 37.3p, while Barclays gained 6.2p, or 2.41%, to 266p. However, the mining sector continued its late night slump as investors moved to secure profits. Vedanta Resources has slid to the bottom of the benchmark index, dropping 76p, or 4.8%, to £15.06, while Lonmin, down 40p, or 2.65%, to £14.70, and BHP Billiton, down 36p, or 2.41%, to £14.57 are also in the re...