Miners give FTSE a boost

BHP Billiton rose 5.53% to £10.40 after it announced a large increase in profits alongside an extra $10bn cash return to shareholders. Higher metal prices also took Anglo American up 2.74% to £24.71 and Verdanta Resources up 3.52% to £12.36. Supermarket group J Sainsbury added 0.68% to £5.19 on reports private equity firm Texas Pacific is in talks to enter a CVC-led consortium for the group. Lloyds TSB ended flat at £5.98 after the FT reported the bank's pension deficit may be as high as £3bn – nearly three times the company’s own £1.1bn calculation agreed in 2005 – according to a pro...