LONDON (ShareCast) - Northern Rock is the top riser on talk that ING is considering an approach. The Dutch bank joins a list of possible predators that also includes Lloyds TSB and HSBC.

Big gains in the US and Asia overnight have given many of the other financials a boost, with private equity group 3i and hedge fund managers Man Group and Schroders standing out.

Miners also gained again as metal prices were higher, giving Kazakhmys and Lonmin a lift.

Supermarket chain Tesco is posting slim gains after the Times’ Tempus column recommended investors continue buying the stock.

In results news, pest control firm Rentokil Initial tumbled after it reported adjusted first-half pre-tax profit down 12.9%, in line with expectations, although it said profits will be strongly ahead in the second-half.

Persimmon is leading the fallers after ABN Amro cut its price target for the housebuilder, while peer Barratt Developments and real estate giant British Land are also in the red.


FTSE 100 - Risers
Northern Rock (NRK) 770.00p +5.77%
Man Group (EMG) 498.50p +3.53%
Kazakhmys (KAZ) 1,286.00p +2.88%
3i Group (III) 1,098.00p +2.81%
Punch Taverns (PUB) 1,067.00p +2.69%
Johnson Matthey (JMAT) 1,648.00p +2.68%
Schroders (SDR) 1,313.00p +2.58%
Tesco (TSCO) 415.25p +2.53%
HBOS (HBOS) 900.50p +2.33%
Antofagasta (ANTO) 710.50p +2.30%

FTSE 100 - Fallers
Persimmon (PSN) 1,224.00p -2.31%
Rentokil Initial (RTO) 169.90p -1.79%
Resolution (RSL) 619.50p -1.35%
HSBC Holdings (HSBA) 902.00p -0.55%
British Land (BLND) 1,281.00p -0.39%
DSG International (DSGI) 158.50p -0.31%
Associated British Foods (ABF) 840.50p -0.30%
Sainsbury (J) (SBRY) 529.00p -0.28%
Barratt Developments (BDEV) 947.50p -0.26%
Hammerson (HMSO) 1,304.00p -0.23%

• News Channel