Morning Markets: Barclays higher on possible $10bn BGI sale

Banks are once again driving the FTSE 100 higher this morning, with the index gaining 8.90 points, o...

Banks are once again driving the FTSE 100 higher this morning, with the index gaining 8.90 points, or 0.2%, to 4371.48 by 8.40am. Barclays had added 7.91% to 273p as the FT reports is could sell its Barclays Global Investors asset management business to potential buyers tipped to be BlackRock and the Bank of New York Mellon Corp. Royal Bank of Scotland Group is up 6.08% to 41.60p continuing yesterday's successful day of trading, while Friends Provident has climbed 5.45% to 75.50p. Lloyds Banking Group has gained 3.19% to 90.60p. However, travel firms Thomas Cook Group and TUI travel c...