(MENAFN- ProactiveInvestors)London's blue chip stocks ended the week on a higher note making it the largest gaining week since the start of October. In a week that could have justifiably seen falling prices global indices instead find themselves looking at their best week for a month. Connor Campbell at Spreadex said: 'Whether or not that trend can continue next week when some semblance of normality returns is unknown; for now however one imagines the markets will be rather content with the recent highs struck in the course of the past 5 days.' The UK's main market was boosted by the positive opening in the US where the Dow was up 156 points or 0.9% at 17889. The broader-based S&P 500 was 13 points to the good at 2094 up 0.6%; the Nasdaq Composite was also up 0.6% at 5105. In Europe European Central Bank president Mario Draghi hinted that the ECB will act at its December meeting either by cutting rates or raising QE. Joshua Mahony at IG said: 'Mario Draghi has a talent for making the most of each policy move with the European Central Bank president famed for his dovish rhetoric which keeps European markets rallying and the euro falling.' In Germany the Dax was 37 points higher to 11122 while the French Cac40 nudged just 4 points lower to 4911. Back in the UK the FTSE 100 ended the day 8 points ahead at 6338 with Imperial Tobacco (LON:IMT) near the top of the risers. A fire was lit under the cigarette maker's shares which were 61p or 1.7% higher to 3553p on renewed speculation that rival British American Tobacco (LON:BATS) has been courting bankers about financing for a full takeover of the Lambert & Butler and JPS maker. At the other end of the index G4S (LON:G4S) was the biggest lower down 3% or 7p to 219p. The outsourcing group was downgraded by Credit Suisse to 'neutral' from 'outperform' and had its target price cut to 250p from 320p. JPMorgan Cazenove also cut its target price on to 298p from 309p. In economic news October's UK public finance figures showed borrowing had not fallen as quickly as expected leaving Chancellor George Osborne with less room for manoeuvre in his autumn statement and spending report next Wednesday. Public sector net borrowing excluding banks in October was £8.2bn higher than market forecasts of £6bn and last October's total of £7.1bn - the largest October deficit since 2009. Ophir Energy (LON:OPHR) shares dropped 7% to 83.4p today after the market digested yesterday's news that it hit oil after completing operations on an exploration well in the Gulf of Thailand but it was not enough to make it economically viable. In the small cap space Aqua Bounty Technologies (LON:ABTU) rocketed some 155% or 22p to 37p after the FDA approved the company's genetically enhanced salmon for production sale and consumption. Conversely Lonmin (LON:LMI) plummeted 87% or 8p to 1.3p. Yesterday shareholders approved its deeply discounted rights issue to raise US$400mln and today the 26bn shares were admitted to the London stock exchange. Also lower was Halosource (LON:HALO) after it warned that it will post widening losses this year after delays in certain projects and operational challenges mean it will miss market expectations. Shares lost 39% or 7.6p to 11.6p. LUNCHTIME REPORT Takeover talk surrounding Imperial Tobacco (LON:IMT) buoyed the London market in an otherwise lacklustre Friday session. The cigarette maker's shares wafted 67p or 1.9% to 3559p on renewed speculation that rival British American Tobacco (LON:BATS) has been courting bankers about financing for a full takeover of the Lambert & Butler and JPS maker. The talk in the City on Friday was that BAT has taken on Barclays as its adviser for a bid that could be announced as soon as next week. There was speculation last month that BAT might break up its rival and hive off parts of it to others such as Japan Tobacco. On November 3 Imperial reported a good performance from key brands but said problems in Iraq and Syria took their toll. Imperial's brands include Davidoff Gauloises Blondes JPS West Fine News USA Gold Bastos Lambert & Butler and Parker & Simpson. BAT shares fell 1.5p to 3859p. A spokeswoman for BAT whose brands include Pall Mall Kent Rothmans Dunhill and Lucky Strike declined to comment. Imperial could not be contacted at time of going to press. Elsewhere the FTSE 100 Index pared losses to stand 16 points ahead at 6346. The CAC-40 in Paris advanced five points and Germany's DAX rose 55 points. Traders failed to react significantly to comments by European Central Bank President Mario Draghi that the ECB would "do what it must" to raise eurozone inflation. In the UK October's UK public finance figures showed borrowing had not fallen as quickly as expected leaving Chancellor George Osborne with less room for manoeuvre in his Autumn Statement next Wednesday. Public sector net borrowing excluding banks in October was £8.2bn higher than market forecasts of £6bn and last October's total of £7.1bn - the largest October deficit since 2009. The biggest faller overall was beleaguered South African platinum miner Lonmin (LON:LMI) after Lonmin's shares tumbled after shareholders approved a deeply discounted rights issue to keep the company afloat. The stock reversed 8.47p or 86% to 1.38p. Russ Mould at AJ Bell said: "Lonmin has been hit by plunging platinum prices but there are fears a further cash injection will be needed unless prices improve.' Halosource (LON:HAL) backtracked 5.5p to 19.5p as the the global clean water technology group said order delays and operational problems in China would hit second half drinking water revenue. Oil and gas investor Parkmead (LON:PMG) leaked 2.75p to 68.5p despite telling investors that the Diever West gas field in the Netherlands has achieved first gas. Aqua Bounty Technologies (ABTU) soared 13.5p or 93% to 28p on news that the US Food & Drug Administration had approved its genetically enhanced salmon for production and sales. Sweden iron ore explorer Beowulf Mining (LON:BEM) confessed it was at a loss to know why the market was getting so excited about its shares which rose 0.9p or 21% to 5.25p although it did note that its third quarter interim statement was due in 10 days. *Remember Proactive is reporting the hot market topics being discussed by traders and bankers - it is not market fact. Neither is it an invitation to trade on the information. LONDON OPEN London shares were on the slide on Friday amid a lack of corporate news but Imperal Tobacco was higher on takeover talk. The FTSE 100 Index fell four points to 6325 while the CAC-40 in Paris dropped 23 points and Germany's DAX dipped 16.75 points. Markets were treading water following slight falls in the main US indices on Thursday. Japan's Nikkei rose 20 points and the Shanghai Composite closed 13 points up. Traders failed to react significantly to comments by European Central Bank President Mario Draghi that the ECB would "do what it must" to raise eurozone inflation. In the UK October's UK public finance figures showed borrowing had not fallen as quickly as expected leaving Chancellor George Osborne with less room for manoeuvre in his Autumn Statement next Wednesday. Public sector net borrowing excluding banks in October was £8.2bn higher than market forecasts of £6bn and last October's total of £7.1bn - the largest October deficit since 2009. On the markets Imperial Tobacco (LON:IMT) wafted 76p higher to 3568p on renewed speculation that rival British American Tobacco (LON:BATS) has been courting bankers about financing for a full takeover of the Lambert & Butler and JPS maker. The biggest faller overall was beleaguered South African platinum miner Lonmin (LON:LMI) after Lonmin's shares tumbled after shareholders approved a deeply discounted rights issue to keep the company afloat. The stock reversed 8.32p or 84.5% to 1.53p. Russ Mould at AJ Bell said: "Lonmin has been hit by plunging platinum prices but there are fears a further cash injection will be needed unless prices improve.' Halosource (LON:HAL) backtracked 5.5p to 19.5p as the the global clean water technology group said order delays and operational problems in China would hit second half drinking water revenue. Oil and gas investor Parkmead (LON:PMG) leaked 1.25p to 70p despite telling investors that the Diever West gas field in the Netherlands has achieved first gas. MARKET PREVIEW London's premier share index is tipped to open flat after yesterday's gains as central banks and their plans remain the focus. The FTSE 100 Index closed 52 points higher at 6330 but today is called to start just 0.5 higher. On Thursday the European Central Bank's Peter Praet hinted that another quantitative easing injection could be on its way suggesting further loosening of policy while in the US the prospect of a December rise initially was pushed aside but then appeared to prompt trader jitters. The benchmark Dow S&P500 and Nasdaq all closed a shade down. Angus Nicholson an analyst at spread-better IG noted: "The pullback seen in the US dollar in the wake of the Fed minutes does seem to reflect a lot of uncertainty around the pace of rate hikes by the Fed. 'It is this US-dollar weakness and ongoing swoon in commodity prices that provides a jarring counterpoint to the gains seen in Asian equities of late." Speaking of Asia gains appeared to be consolidated. The Nikkei 225 in Japan added 20 overnight and China's Shanghai Composite index was up 13. Meanwhile commodity prices are under pressure with copper reaching new six-year lows heightening worries over global demand. Oil is at around the US$40 a barrel mark.
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