Vodafone rings a flat FTSE

Vodafone has advanced 1p or 0.8% to 127p after the Daily Telegraph reported it rejected an indicative offer of $38bn from Verizon Communications for the UK company's 45% stake in their Verizon Wireless joint venture. Kingfisher has also gained risen 7.5p or 3.2% to 243.5p after UBS AG raised the recommendation on the stock to "buy" from "neutral". Eslewhere on the downside, however, Xstrata has dropped 20p or 0.9% to £23.45. In Japan, the Nikkei 225 Stock Average index fell 100.76 points or 0.6% to 17,190.91 points, by close of business in Tokyo, led by technology-related stocks af...