FTSE 100 movers: Miners dominate risers

8th Apr 2011 13:32

Surging commodity prices have helped the miners dominate the FTSE 100 risers, with seven out of top ten best performers coming from the sector.Shares in Fresnillo, which mines for silver in Mexico, are higher after silver hit $40 an ounce for the first time since 1980, while gold prices have hit record levels. More mainstream miners such as Anglo American and Xstrata are also posting good gains. Indian mining giant Vedanta produced record volumes of metals in the fourth quarter as it sought to benefit from soaring commodity prices. Mining giant Rio Tinto has finally managed to get majority control of Australian mining company Riversdale, bringing to an end a bid saga that has been running since Christmas. Rio said its shareholding has passed 50% of coal miner Riversdale, and may grow further as the company's offer remains open until 20 April.Scottish & Southern Energy has been given a lift after Credit Suisse upgraded the energy supplier from 'neutral' to 'outperform'.Meanwhile, cruise operator Carnival and airline IAG are among the heaviest fallers after oil prices hit a fresh two-and-a-half year high. ---bcFTSE 100 - RisersGKN (GKN) 206.20p +3.15%Fresnillo (FRES) 1,656.00p +2.99%Anglo American (AAL) 3,309.00p +2.80%Xstrata (XTA) 1,511.00p +2.58%Kazakhmys (KAZ) 1,497.00p +2.46%BHP Billiton (BLT) 2,579.00p +2.46%Old Mutual (OML) 146.00p +2.46%Prudential (PRU) 751.00p +2.39%Rio Tinto (RIO) 4,487.50p +2.34%Antofagasta (ANTO) 1,481.00p +2.21%FTSE 100 - FallersICAP (IAP) 520.00p -3.70%Carnival (CCL) 2,407.00p -1.43%Aggreko (AGK) 1,677.00p -1.12%Intertek Group (ITRK) 2,049.00p -0.77%International Consolidated Airlines Group SA (IAG) 221.30p -0.76%Smith & Nephew (SN.) 701.50p -0.57%Burberry Group (BRBY) 1,184.00p -0.50%Compass Group (CPG) 553.00p -0.36%Centrica (CNA) 318.70p -0.28%WPP (WPP) 767.00p -0.26%