A surprise stake at a 21% premium in Rio Tinto but a team of two aluminum companies lifted the mood investors. Stocks rallied led by asurge in mining companies.Rio Tinto increaesd 13%, BHP soared 10%, Vedanta Resources added 9%, and Antofagasta increased 7%. Xstrata, involved in talks with Rio added 5%. Purchasing Managers Index showed a decline in manufacturing activity in January. British Land fell on downgrade. Biffa and FKI rose on takeover speculations. |