By Sara Sjolin, MarketWatch
LONDON (MarketWatch) -- U.K.'s FTSE 100 index snapped a two-day
losing streak on Wednesday, with shares of Rio Tinto PLC and
Vodafone Group PLC pushing the benchmark higher.
The FTSE 100 index gained 0.5% to 6,706.27, rising in line with
the broader European trading mood.
Movers: Rio Tinto PLC (RIO) gained 2.4% after Morgan Stanley
lifted the mining giant to overweight from equal weight.
Precious-metals miner Fresnillo PLC rose 2.2% after UBS added
the company to its most-preferred list.
Vodafone Group PLC (VOD) put on 2.8% after the company's Chief
Executive Jeroen Hoencamp late Tuesday said he expects to return
the business to growth, in both profit and revenue terms, over the
next 18 to 24 months.
Meanwhile, shares of AstraZeneca PLC (AZN) lost 0.4%. The drop
in the pharmaceutical company shares followed a 3.6% loss from
Tuesday, after the U.S. Treasury Department issued new rules meant
to dampen an influx of merger's (including announced mergers
involving AstraZeneca) intended to sidestep U.S. taxes.
Tate & Lyle PLC fell 1.3% after Société Générale cut the
ingredients maker to hold from buy.
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