Lloyds takes FTSE higher

GUS, Britain's second-largest retailer by market value, has gained 20p, or 1.9%, to 1,070p. Kohlberg Kravis Roberts and Hellman & Friedman are putting together a bid worth £6bn for GUS's Experian Information Solutions unit. Lloyds TSB has climbed 10p, or 1.9%, to 531p. In Japan, the Nikkei 225 Stock Average rose 88.12 points, or 0.5%, to 16,747.76 points led Kyocera and Fast Retailing after brokerages upgraded their ratings on the stocks. Kyocera added 170 yen, or 1.7%, to 10,360 and Fast Retailing jumped 460 yen, or 4.4%, to 10,860. Inpex, Japan's biggest oil explorer, advanced...