FTSE 100 index ends flat, miners advance
By Atul Prakash LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's top share index ended flat on Thursday as stronger miners on steadier China data and a rise in tobacco stocks on deal-making hopes were offset by sharp declines in firms including Royal Mail and AstraZeneca. Miners were boosted by signs of stabilisation in the economy of top metals consumer China, where the factory sector turned in its best performance in five months in May, a private survey showed. The UK mining index .FTNMX1770 rose 0.7 percent, the top sectoral gainer on the blue-chip FTSE 100 index .FTSE, helped by a 1.9 percent gain in Antofagasta ANTO.L and a 1.3 percent rise by Rio Tinto RIO.L. Deal-making activity also gave the market a fillip, with news that British American Tobacco BATS.L could back a potential merger between Reynolds American RAI.N and Lorillard LO.N in a complex three-way transaction helping tobacco stocks. British American Tobacco rose nearly 3 percent before paring gains later to end 0.5 percent firmer. Imperial Tobacco IMT.L ended 0.9 percent higher. "The environment for M&A is quite positive at the moment as uncertainties are diminishing and the confidence of company CEOs is rising. We are also seeing an improvement in economic activity," said James Butterfill, equity strategist at Coutts. "It's quite likely that M&A activities will remain robust and continue to provide support to the stock market." However, the FTSE 100 ended flat at 6,820.56 points. The index finished just less than 2 percent below its record high of 6,950.60 points, recorded in December 1999. Mining and tobacco shares helped the market to stay in positive territory during most of the trading sessions. However, there were sharp declines in some individual shares. AstraZeneca AZN.L fell 3.3 percent on continued uncertainty over whether a $118 billion takeover bid by Pfizer PFE.N might be revived, following gains of more than 2 percent on Wednesday. And the recently privatised Royal Mail RMG.L fell 9.7 percent to 519.0 pence, the biggest FTSE 100 faller, after warned about the strength of competition as it reported a rise in profits. Jordan Hiscott, senior trader at Ayondo Markets, said the shares had recently been at the upper end of their range, some 70 percent above the 330 pence flotation price, and the figures would have needed to be better aleppo pls to drive further gains. "This morning's release of the headline figure for the full year pre-tax profit, coming in at 363 million pounds instead of the expected 400 million, shows increasing challenges in the face of competition." Among other movers, global brewer SABMiller SAB.L rose 3.5 percent, the top gainer on the FTSE 100 after announcing a new savings target to help cushion it against difficult trading in a range of markets. (Additional reporting by Tricia Wright; Editing by John Stonestreet/Ruth Pitchford)
