miners

US indices have opened almost 2% higher on the first trading day of 2012 as risk appetite resumes across global markets.

Sharp falls in bank and mining stocks have dragged the FTSE 100 down a further 3.4% today as global markets continued to struggle.

Investors are missing opportunities within the UK domestic space by focusing too much on overseas earnings, Ignis Cartesian's Jeremy Hall has warned.

Standard Life Investments' Karen Robertson is running a 10% position in miners within her UK Equity High Income fund despite the lack of yield historically available in the sector.

The FTSE 100 remains on track to make gains for the sixth day in a row, with miners powering ahead.

Walker Crips managers Steve Bailey and Jan Luthman have re-introduced Barclays to their portfolios for the first time in nearly four years.

The London Stock Exchange is set to acquire the Toronto Stock Exchange in a £4.2bn deal, creating a major trading centre for mining shares.

UPDATE: The UK index of 100 leading stocks had jumped 58.87 points to 5921.81 by 2pm, an increase of 1%, led by rising commodity prices as civil unrest in Egypt continues.

The UK index of 100 leading shares was up in early trading, lifted by rises in all the major global markets.

The FTSE 100 opened lower this morning, down 0.31% to 5,529, as miners saw falls across the board.