Financial and mining stocks dominated the blue-chip risers board today as investors displayed a renewed appetite for risk.

A strong run for firms reporting results this week helped London's blue-chips gain ground today although downbeat economic news from the US took the gloss off the day.

Talks of a possible break-up at Cable & Wireless saw shares in the telecoms group surge by more than 4% today.

LEADING food packaging company O’Mahony Packaging has been taken over by FTSE 100 company Bunzl, in a deal valued at close to €3.6m.