London shares rebound after airport scare

Share in London rose slightly today as travel-related stocks rebounded after news of a plot to bomb aircraft in mid-flight rattled…

Share in London rose slightly today as travel-related stocks rebounded after news of a plot to bomb aircraft in mid-flight rattled markets during the previous session.

By 9am the FTSE 100 index was up 18.1 points at 5,841.5, recouping some of yesterday's fall when markets were hit by a foiled plan to attack flights between Britain and the United States.

Miners were among the biggest gainers after a newspaper report that Brazil's CVRD was about to make an all-cash bid for Inco, sparking talk of sector consolidation.

Xstrata gained 2.1 per cent, topping the FTSE 100 leaderboard, while Anglo American, Lonmin and Vedanta rose about 1 per cent each. Steelmaker Corus was also stronger after upbeat results from German peer Thyssenkrupp.

Among the stocks rebounding, British Airways gained 1 per cent and Intercontinental Hotels added 1.6 per cent. Mid-cap listed car hire firm Avis Europe jumped over 2 per cent.

Vodafone limited the market's advance, however, continuing to slip after a profit warning from Deutsche Telekom yesterday. Shares in the mobile phone giant fell nearly 1 per cent in early trade.

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