Financial News

LONDON (ShareCast) - Lloyds Banking Group (LSE: LLOY.L - news) is one of just a handful of blue chip risers Monday after the Times (1832.HK - news) said Commonwealth Bank of Australia has joined the bidding for its third-party funds business, Insight.

The newspaper said the business is expected to raise as much as £300m for Lloyds.

Drugs giant AstraZeneca (LSE: AZN.L - news) has also made it into the blue following a Citigroup (NYSE: C - news) upgrade to 'buy' from 'hold'.

The broker thinks Astra's Onglyza diabetes drug could get US and EU approval by the end of July.

Miners have been pounded as metal prices weaken on a strengthening dollar.

Lonmin (LSE: LMI.L - news) is worst of the bunch after it shut down its Number One furnace in South Africa. A full repair could take around 30 days, said the world's third-largest platinum producer.

FTSE 100 - Risers Lloyds Banking Group (LLOY) 66.90p +2.45% AstraZeneca (AZN) 2,639.00p +0.38% Pennon Group (LSE: PNN.L - news) (PNN) 488.25p +0.36% Sainsbury (J) (SBRY) 331.25p +0.08% Shire Plc (LSE: GB00B0KQX869.L - news) (SHP) 831.00p -0.06% United Utilities Group (UU.) 537.00p -0.09% Cadbury (Munich: A0NJP5 - news) (CBRY) 534.00p -0.09% Unilever (Amsterdam: UNIA.AS - news) (ULVR) 1,476.00p -0.14% Smith & Nephew (SN.) 465.50p -0.16% Severn Trent (LSE: SVT.L - news) (SVT (SVTV.PK - news) ) 1,165.00p -0.17%

FTSE 100 - Fallers Lonmin (LMI) 1,328.00p -7.84% Rio Tinto (LSE: RIO.L - news) (RIO) 2,940.00p -5.65% Vedanta Resources (LSE: VED.L - news) (VED) 1,520.00p -4.94% Xstrata (XTA) 723.00p -4.87% Eurasian Natural Resources (ENRC) 703.00p -4.55% Antofagasta (LSE: ANTO.L - news) (ANTO) 643.50p -4.45% British Airways (LSE: BAY.L - news) (BAY) 138.70p -4.28% Tullow Oil (LSE: TLW.L - news) (TLW) 918.50p -4.12% Cairn Energy (Virt-X: CNE1.VX - news) (CNE) 2,360.00p -4.03% Fresnillo (LSE: FRES.L - news) (FRES) 622.00p -4.01%