LONDON (ShareCast) - RSA Insurance leads the FTSE 100 higher after Henri de Castries, the chief executive of Axa, RSA's largest shareholder hinted it would use the current financial market turmoil to strengthen its position in coming months. Other insurers moved up in sympathy led by Aviva and Prudential.

Royal Bank of Scotland leads banks higher on hopes that the $700bn mortgage bail-out will be ratified after President Bush issued a stern warning about the consequences for the US financial system if it does not go ahead.

FTSE 100 - Risers
RSA Insurance Group (RSA) 159.40p +11.08%
Aviva (AV.) 530.00p +7.89%
TUI Travel (TT.) 219.00p +6.31%
Royal Bank of Scotland Group (RBS) 221.75p +5.60%
Vodafone Group (VOD) 126.90p +5.22%
Admiral Group (ADM) 1,005.00p +5.02%
Experian Group (EXPN) 397.75p +4.74%
Barclays (BARC) 361.25p +4.56%

FTSE 100 - Fallers
Eurasian Natural Resources (ENRC) 596.00p -6.14%
Man Group (EMG) 387.75p -4.96%
Thomas Cook Group (TCG) 214.00p -4.25%
London Stock Exchange Group (LSE) 848.00p -3.91%
British Airways (BAY) 199.60p -3.81%
Xstrata (XTA) 2,045.00p -3.40%
Standard Chartered (STAN) 1,412.00p -3.29%
Centrica (CNA) 323.25p -2.34%

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