ITV helps FTSE to fine start

Broadcaster ITV drove the FTSE 100 Index to a positive start to the week today after bid speculation sent its shares soaring.

The stock advanced 5% or 6.75p to 131.5p after a consortium including Time Warner, Goldman Sachs and Apax Partners was reported to have made a approach for the company. It helped the Footsie move 6.2 points higher to 5167.2 in the first hour of trading.