Cadbury drives FTSE rise

Drinks and confectionery group Cadbury Schweppes helped steer an advance for the London market today after reports surfaced indicating private equity groups could be interested in its US beverages business.

Shares in the group jumped almost 3%, or 17.5p to 691p amid the speculation that the business could fetch as much as £8bn (€11.7bn), even before Cadbury has separated its operations.