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FTSE rises at midday, miners offset bank losses

Mon Nov 3, 2008 5:54pm IST
 
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* FTSE 100 rises 0.6 pct

* Miners and oils track firmer raw material prices

* Banks fall, bleak outlook for sector

By Harpreet Bhal

LONDON, Nov 3 (Reuters) - Britain's leading share index had edged up by midday on Monday, sustained by gains in commodity stocks, while concern about Barclays' (BARC.L: Quote, Profile, Research) fundraising dented banking stocks.

Miners were among the top performers on the FTSE 100 .FTSE as improved risk appetite boosted metal prices, while energy shares rallied as the price of crude oil CLc1 rose modestly.

By 1205 GMT, the benchmark index rose 25.79 points to 4,402.66, on track for a fifth day of gains, its longest since December 2007.

The index gained 12.7 percent last week, its strongest week on record, fed by anticipation of a widely-expected interest rate cut from the Bank of England later this week, although it was down 10.7 percent in October.

Mike Lenhoff, chief strategist at Brewin Dolphin said the market has reacted positively to a spate of interest rate cuts in the United States, China, India and Japan, turning the spotlight to the BoE on Thursday.  Continued...

Russian Finance Minister Alexey Kudrin poses with his G20 colleagues and central bank leaders during the family photo at the G20 Finance Ministers meeting at a hotel in St. Andrews, Scotland. REUTERS/POOL New
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