On Tuesday the FTSE 100 Index advanced
0.4% reaching 5,245.05 in morning trading session. Markets reflected
relief as major rating agencies confirmed US credit rating despite failure to
approve debt-cut plan. Financial institutions and resource equities were among
the major gainers on Tuesday. HSBC Holdings PLC and Heavyweights Standard
Chartered PLC each added about 1.7% while Lloyds Banking Group gained 1.3%. Mining
companies Rio Tinto PLC and Anglo American PLC rose 1.5% and 1.9%
respectively. The most negative contribution came from Shares of Smith &
Nephew PLC shares giving up 2.8% after Citigroup reduced its EPS forecast.