The FTSE 100 was up 0.18% to 5,204.65 in early trading as bid activity in the financial sector boosted the index.
Old Mutual's shares soared on news it had received an offer from HSBC for up to 70% of South African bank Nedbank. It was up 4.55% to 126.5p. Other early morning risers included BHP Billiton, advancing 1.29% to £18.44, while Cairn Energy rose 1.28% to 466p. Meanwhile, SABMiller led index fallers, down 1.16% to £18.29, followed by BP which dropped 0.99% to 384.5p. On Wall Street, the Dow Jones fell 0.56% or 57.59 points to 10,213.62 on persistent concerns the recovery has tapered off. Thursday's gloomy jobs and regional manufacturing data remained in the forefront as investors de...
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