The FTSE 100 has kept its gains, ending 14.3 points higher, or 0.27%, to 5358.60, at its close a short time ago, after bid hopes at Compass and buoyant banks helped cancel out losses at O2.
Compass was one of the days top movers, climbing 7p, or 3.68%, to 197p, after reports US private equity groups are mulling potential offers refused to die down. The UK banking sector moved ahead in unison, with Royal Bank of Scotland climbing 1.84% to 1604p, while Northern Rock jumped 2.44% to 818p on the back of better than expected third quarter results from Credit Suisse. HBOS also improved, ending up 2.37% to 864p. Mobile operator O2 led the fallers though, dropping 5.62% to 197.5p, after Deutsche Telekom said it would not be making a counter bid, sending the shares below the 200p...
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