Financial News

LONDON (ShareCast) - 1255: Miner Anglo American the best performer in a buoyant mining sector, helping keep the FTSE 100 in the blue. Away from mining, bank Standard Chartered (LSE: STAN.L - news) and hotel group Intercontinental Hotels are going well. Insurer Friends Provident is the heaviest faller. In the FTSE 250 (news) , McBride (LSE: MCB.L - news) which makes personal care and cleaning products for supermarkets, jumps after reporting the benefits of shoppers flocking to own-label products. FTSE 100 up 3 at 4,233.

1110: Footsie (news) is still in the blue mainly due to good gains in the mining sector. Kazakhmys (LSE: KAZ.L - news) is currently the best performer. Insurer Friends Provident, which has taken an ex-dividend hit this morning, is the heaviest faller. FTSE 100 up 14 at 4,244.

0915: Footsie is in the red now, despite good gains in the mining sector. Miners make up the top four stocks, with Rio Tinto (LSE: RIO.L - news) the best performer. FTSE 100 down 6 at 4,223.

0825: Footsie has shrugged off the normal Wednesday ex-dividend drag and is making decent gains. Anglo American (LSE: AAL.L - news) is picking up on rumours yesterday that Brazil's Vale or China's Chinalco might consider a deal to scupper Xstrata (LSE: XTA.L - news) 's merger plans. Miners generally are in demand with Randgold, Rio and Antofagasta (LSE: ANTO.L - news) all doing well. FTSE 100 up 9 at 4,240.