Mining stocks give FTSE a good start

Spectacular gains for mining companies ensured London’s FTSE 100 Index started the new month on the front foot today.

The Footsie dropped almost 9% in January, but set about recovering some of the deficit with a rise of 80.2 points to 5960 by mid-morning. The top flight had been within touching distance of the 6000 barrier earlier in the session.