In the European trading mining and energy stocks are dominating the news. France, Germany and Spain are trading fractionally lower at mid-day trading. However, the indexes in London are slightly ahead.

Newspaper report of possible bid to break up a mining conglomerate Anglo American for $80 billion has lifted mining stocks in the UK trading. Rio Tinto jumped 0.6% and Xstrata added 0.5%. BHP Billiton jumped 1.6% on the news that Chilean miners have rejected company’s offer of 4% pay increase.