After an erratic start, the FTSE100 is in the black this morning, up 13.80 points (0.25%) to 5468.30 thanks to attempted takeover activity in the mining sector.
Anglo-African platinum mining company Lonmin leads the way, up a huge 46.96% or 1089 to 3408, having rejected a £5bn takeover offer from larger rival Xstrata. Antofagasta has started well, up 27.5 or 5.29% to 547.5; while Vedanta Resources is 4.96% ahead to 1862. Certain financial stocks have started the day lagging behind, with Old Mutual 6.39% lower to 99.6, while Friends Provident and Lloyds TSB Group are down 3.83% and 3.7% respectively. ITV has shed 5.18% to 43.9 following news it has been hit by an advertising slowdown, seeing half-year profits fall by 28%. Looking Statesid...
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