FTSE tops 6,700 as China data boosts miners

The FTSE 100 opened above 6,700 on Friday as a pick-up in Chinese manufacturing data boosted mining stocks.

The HSBC Chinese manufacturing index for October came in at 50.9, up from 50.2 in September, while mining stocks led the FTSE during yesterday's session. The index of 100 leading stocks ended Thursday up 38 points or 0.58% at 6,713, its tenth gain in eleven days, opening down 0.10% today at 6,706. Today the Office for National Statistics will release its first estimate for UK GDP growth in the third quarter. Economists expect to see 0.8% growth between July and September, following three months of upbeat private sector surveys, rising house prices, positive jobs data and retail sales...