Miners give FTSE a head start

BHP Billiton has advanced 0.9% to 998p after it resumed production of copper cathode at its Escondida mine in Chile, where 2,052 workers went on strike on 7th August. Rio Tinto has rallied 1.4% to 2,676p and Anglo American has gained 0.8% to 2,361p. Vodafone has added 0.7% to 111.5p after it agreed to sell its 25% stake in Belgian mobile-phone operator Proximus to Belgacom SA for $2.6bn. Lloyds TSB has gained 0.96% to 528p on positive words from broker Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein. Fund manager Henderson has risen 5.45% to 87p after it reported a 23% increase in first half pre-tax...