FTSE gets head rush on tobacco take-over talks

Gallaher, the fifth-largest publicly traded cigarette maker, has soared 189.5p pence, or 19%, to a record 1168.5p following an approach by Japan Tobacco. Imperial Tobacco Group, which makes Lambert & Butler and Richmond cigarettes, has gained 131p, or 6.9%, to 2018p. British American Tobacco, the makers of Lucky Strikes, has gained 54p, or 3.8%, to 1477p. Vedanta Resources, India's largest copper and zinc producer, led a decline in mining stocks after copper prices fell in Asia. Vedanta shares have slid 7p, or 0.5%, to 1317p. The company completed the expansion of one of its copper...