London equities markets were up on Thursday, with the FTSE 100 added 1.25 percent to 6,697.7 and the FTSE 250 gained 1.22 percent to 11,809.

Most miners were higher on the session, but the sector managed to provide both the biggest winner and the worst performer on the 100.

Vedanta Resources (LSE: VED) added 6.45 percent to £18.00, while Rio Tinto (LSE: RIO) was 4.58 percent lower to £38.10.

Rio Tinto’s decline came after it put in a bid for Canadian aluminium producer Alcan (TSX: AL; NYSE: AL) and after Standard & Poor‘s announced that it would take a look at Rio Tinto‘s credit rating if the deal was completed.

Elsewhere in the sector, Xstrata (LSE: XTA) was 4.67 percent higher to £34.27 and Antofagasta (LSE: ANTO) added 6.39 percent to 715.5p.

The best performance on the 250 came from oil refiner Hunting (LSE: HTG), which gained 8.01 percent to 842.5p.

Other gainers on the 100 included British Airways (LSE: BAY; NYSE: BAB), which was 5.26 percent higher to 440.5p.

Hedge fund Man Group (LSE: EMG) added 4.05 percent to 616.5. Public transport company Arriva (LSE: ARI) was the worst performer on the 250 as it dropped 4.09 percent to 751p.

Other decliners on the 100 included Whitbread (LSE: WTB); the leisure services group fell 2.47 percent to £18.98.

Property developer Hammerson (LSE: HMSO) was 0.88 percent lower to £13.55.

Equities markets in London saw declines on Tuesday.

The FTSE 100 dropped 1.14 percent to 6,636.4, while the FTSE 250 was 1.08 percent lower to 11,732.1.

Miners were lower after rumors circulated that BHP Billiton (LSE: BLT; ASX: BHP; NYSE: BHP) might be interested in bidding for US aluminium producer Alcoa (NYSE: AA).

BHP Billiton was the worst performer on the 100 on the day, dropping 3.89 percent to £14.83.

Elsewhere in the sector, Xstrata (LSE: XTA) dropped 3.33 percent to £32.48, while Anglo American (LSE: AAL) fell 3.61 percent to £32.04 and Lonmin was 3.64 percent lower to £41.54.

The best performance on the day on the 100 came from property developer Land Securities (LSE: LAND), which added 4.8 percent to £18.35.

Public transport group Arriva (LSE: ARI) had the best day on the 250 as it gained 7.92 percent to 770p after it was revealed that it had been awarded the UK Cross Country rail franchise.

There were also gains in the retail sector.

J Sainsbury (LSE: SBRY) was 1.05 percent higher to 577.5p, while Marks & Spencer (LSE: MKS) was up 1.26 percent to 640.5p on a trading update that was not as bad as had been anticipated.

In the same sector on the 250, WH Smith (LSE: SMWH) added 2.04 percent to 411.75p.