Copper miner, Kazakhmys, ticked up 36p to £15.32, Anglo American gained 47½p to £27.27½ and Rio Tinto shrugged off a downgrade from SocGen to put on 65p to £37.67. 
Share:  <span class="sent">Copper miner, Kazakhmys, ticked up 36p to £15.32, Anglo American gained 47½p to £27.27½ and <span class="company">Rio Tinto</span> shrugged off a downgrade from SocGen to put on 65p to £37.67.</span> Tweet this 

By Sonya Dowsett MADRID, March 17 (Reuters) , Europe's biggest retailer Inditex showed strong sales growth in the first six weeks of the new year as its fast fashion format allowed it to respond quickly to an uptick in demand. Zara owner Inditex reported a 5 percent rise in net profit for 2009 on Wednesday, beating analysts' forecasts, while sales at constant exchange rates rose 14 percent since the start of the company's financial year on Feb. 1. "The big thing about these results is that suddenly you've got like for like sales popping back into positive territory," said Anne Critchlow, analyst at Societe Generale. Critchlow estimated like for like sales growth of 6 percent in the fourth quarter and up to 5 percent growth in the first six weeks of the new financial year, against a 3 percent drop in the third quarter. Inditex does not break out like for like sales 
Share:  By Sonya Dowsett MADRID, March 17 (Reuters) , Europe's biggest retailer <span class="company">Inditex</span> showed strong sales growth in the first six weeks of the new year as its fast fashion format allowed it to respond quickly to an uptick in demand.<span class="sent"> Zara owner <span class="company">Inditex</span> reported a 5 percent rise in net profit for 2009 on Wednesday, beating analysts' forecasts, while sales at constant exchange rates rose 14 percent since the start of the company's financial year on Feb. 1. "The big thing about these results is that suddenly you've got like for like sales popping back into positive territory," said <span class="analyst">Anne Critchlow</span>, analyst at Societe Generale.</span> Critchlow estimated like for like sales growth of 6 percent in the fourth quarter and up to 5 percent growth in the first six weeks of the new financial year, against a 3 percent drop in the third quarter. <span class="company">Inditex</span> does not break out like for like sales....By Sonya Dowsett MADRID, March 17 (Reuters) , Europe's biggest retailer <span class="company">Inditex</span> showed strong sales growth in the first six weeks of the new year as its fast fashion format allowed it to respond quickly to an uptick in demand.<span class="sent"> Zara owner <span class="company">Inditex</span> reported a 5 percent rise in net profit for 2009 on Wednesday, beating analysts' forecasts, while sales at constant exchange rates rose 14 percent since the start of the company's financial year on Feb. 1. "The big thing abo Tweet this 

"The balance of probabilities is that this will get approval," said Jonathan Wober, an analyst at Societe Generale in London with "hold" recommendations on British Airways and Iberia stock. 
Share:  <span class="sent">"The balance of probabilities is that this will get approval," said <span class="analyst">Jonathan Wober</span>, an analyst at Societe Generale in London with "hold" recommendations on <span class="company">British Airways</span> and Iberia stock.</span> Tweet this 

"The balance of probabilities is that this will get approval," said Jonathan Wober, an analyst at Societe Generale in London with "hold" recommendations on British Airways and Iberia stock. 
Share:  <span class="sent">"The balance of probabilities is that this will get approval," said <span class="analyst">Jonathan Wober</span>, an analyst at Societe Generale in London with "hold" recommendations on British Airways and <span class="company">Iberia</span> stock.</span> Tweet this 

Standard Chartered Plc advanced 0.9 percent as Societe Generale SA upgraded the shares. 
Share:  <span class="sent"><span class="company">Standard Chartered Plc</span> advanced 0.9 percent as Societe Generale SA upgraded the shares.</span> Tweet this 

Insurers vied with miners for the top spots on the FTSE 100 leaderboard on Monday as the benchmark index kicked off the new week with modest gains.London's senior index started the session up 10 points, or 0.2 per cent, to 5,608.75, extending its 18 month 
Share:  <span class="sent">Insurers vied with miners for the top spots on the FTSE 100 leaderboard on Monday as the benchmark index kicked off the new week with modest gains.</span>London's senior index started the session up 10 points, or 0.2 per cent, to 5,608.75, extending its 18 month Tweet this 

Veolia Environnement upgraded to buy at Societe Generale 4:04 a.m. 
Share:  <span class="sent"><span class="company">Veolia Environnement</span> upgraded to buy at Societe Generale 4:04 a.m.</span> Tweet this 

Some analysts downgraded Prudential's shares because the rights offering could dilute shares up to 11% , 12%, Societe Generale (OTC: SCGLY) analyst Michael van Wegen told MarketWatch. 
Share:  <span class="sent">Some analysts downgraded <span class="company">Prudential</span>'s shares because the rights offering could dilute shares up to 11% , 12%, <span class="analyst">Societe Generale</span> (OTC: SCGLY) analyst Michael van Wegen told MarketWatch.</span> Tweet this 

Some analysts downgraded Prudential's shares because the rights offering could dilute shares up to 11% , 12%, Societe Generale (OTC: SCGLY ) analyst Michael van Wegen told MarketWatch. 
Share:  <span class="sent">Some analysts downgraded <span class="company">Prudential</span>'s shares because the rights offering could dilute shares up to 11% , 12%, <span class="analyst">Societe Generale</span> (OTC: SCGLY ) analyst Michael van Wegen told MarketWatch.</span> Tweet this 

AIG is accepting the balance of the sale price, $10.5 billion, in Prudential securities. ‘Important Credibility' The sale should "provide AIG and its new leadership team with important credibility," Cathy Seifert , an equity analyst at Standard & Poor's, said yesterday in a research note. She has a "hold" rating on the company. Emmanuelle Cales , a Societe Generale SA analyst, raised the firm's recommendation on AIG to "buy" from "hold" because of the AIA sale. 
Share:  <span class="company">AIG</span> is accepting the balance of the sale price, $10.5 billion, in Prudential securities. ‘Important Credibility' The sale should "provide <span class="company">AIG</span> and its new leadership team with important credibility," Cathy Seifert , an equity analyst at Standard & Poor's, said yesterday in a research note. She has a "hold" rating on the company.<span class="sent"> <span class="analyst">Emmanuelle Cales</span> , a Societe Generale SA analyst, raised the firm's recommendation on <span class="company">AIG</span> to "buy" from "hold" because of the AIA sale.</span>...She has a "hold" rating on the company.<span class="sent"> <span class="analyst">Emmanuelle Cales</span> , a Societe Generale SA analyst, raised the firm's recommendation on <span class="company">AIG</span> to "buy" from "hold" because of the AIA sale.</span> Tweet this