(MENAFN- ProactiveInvestors) Mining stocks pushed the Footsie higher with a little help from where bid speculation continues to stoke demand for the mobile phone networks giant.
The FTSE 100 was up 42 points at 7055 at 12.30 with () leading the way. Speculation continues to swirl that Liberty Global is eyeing up the mobile phone network operator. Shares jumped 4% to 252.5p.
In China unused funds from recent flotations have been funnelled back into the domestic market. The increased liquidity is expected to provide an up-tick in demand which was a boost to the mining stocks on the FTSE 100.
For the second day in a row () found itself near the top of the index rising 2.1% to 777p.
There were also gains for () 2.0% higher at 1080.5p () up 2.0% at 1433p while () rose 1.8% to 4797p as the price of gold headed higher.
Down in the Footsie basement was water provider () as the company reported a fall in profits for the year to 31 March.
Pre-tax profit dropped 53% to £148.2mln as the company said it faces increasing regulatory pressure. Shares fell 1.4% to 2151p.
Airlines are friendless despite the oil price ebbing; owner IAG () is the worst performing blue-chip down 1.4% at 546p while easyJet () down 0.8% at 1598p is also flying at a lower altitude.
The big movements are to be found among the small caps where for instance Russian mine developer (LON:AMUR) has seen its share price double on the award of a permit for its Kun-Manie asset in Russia.
Tungsten Corp () shares have been in a tailspin this year but recovered sharply today after the firm raised £17.5mln through a share placement of more than 21mln shares at 80p per share.
The news sent shares in the electronic invoice supplier jumping 30% to 91p.
Suit hire firm Moss Bros () scrubs up well after its trading update which revealed like-for-like sales in the first 15 weeks of its financial year were up 7.4% year-on-year.
Mosman Oil and Gas () said it is talking to a potential farm-in partner for the Taramakau licence. Shares eased 13.5% to 4p as the company said that despite the promising name of Petroleum Creek where it has been doing some flow testing recovered fluid thus far has been predominantly water.
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