In London on Thursday, the FTSE 100 added 1.16 percent to 6,227.7, largely on the strength of gains in the mining sector. The FTSE 250 was also higher, gaining 1.6 percent to 11,363.8.

Among miners, Xstrata (LSE: XTA) added 0.4 percent to £24.69 after rumors surfaced that it was thinking about bidding on Canadian nickel miner Lionore Mining (LSE, Toronto Stock Exchange: LIM), which gained 2.7 percent to 750p. Lionore is up nearly 133 percent since October of last year.

Elsewhere in the sector, Vedanta Resources (LSE: VED) and Kazakhmys (LSE: KAZ) were each 2.9 percent higher, to £12.49 and £11.24 respectively. Kazakhmys just purchased Dostan-Temir as its first move into the oil sector. Antofagasta (LSE: ANTO) gained 3.1 percent to 476p on rumors that a special dividend of 40 cents US per share might be announced next Tuesday when it reveals its full-year results.

In the banking sector, Standard Chartered (LSE: STAN; SEHK: 2888) added 2.2 percent to £14.30 on broker comments that low share prices meant a good opportunity to buy as well as the news that Singapore’s state investment company, Temasek, had increased its holding in the bank to 12 percent.

Music retailer HMV (LSE: HMV) was up 3.9 percent to 146p ahead of a strategy presentation scheduled for next Tuesday. Pali International initiated coverage with a “buy” recommendation.

First Choice Holidays (LSE: FCD) added 1.2 percent to 268¾p on rumors that private equity might be interested in making a bid.

In London on Monday, the FTSE 100 was 1.2 percent lower to 6,050.1, its lowest close since early October and its largest one day percentage decline since the end of September. Meanwhile, the FTSE 250 also declined, dropping 0.9 percent to 10,493.6.

The retail sector saw declines on slow sales for clothing retailers due to mild weather so far this autumn. Debenhams dropped 1 percent to 194p, while Next fell 2 percent to £17.94. Rumors have underlying sales at Next down by up to 20 percent year-on-year.

In the steel sector, Corus was 1 percent lower to 499½p on worries that pension fund trustees might hold up merger talks with CSN of Brazil. Elsewhere, concerns that the government of Saudi Arabia might pull out of deal to buy 72 Eurofighter planes sent BAE Systems down 3.1 percent to 391p/

The 250 was saved from further declines by advances in the homebuilders sector when Wilson Bowden gained 14.6 percent to £20.98 after it said it has received several takeover inquiries. The mid-caps index was also helped by the news that First Choice Holidays is talking about selling its package tour operations to My Travel. My Travel was 7.1 percent higher to 214p, while First Choice gained 12 percent to 257p.

The London equities markets were mixed on Wednesday. While the FTSE 100 lost early gains to end the session 0.1 percent lower to 5,892.2, the FTSE 250 added 0.6 percent to 9,669.2.

The leisure tours and travel sector was lower on the session. First Choice Holidays was down by 3.9 percent to 208¼p. Meanwhile, My Travel Group dropped 6.3 percent to 188p, for the 250’s biggest loss on the session, after issuing a profits warning. In addition, UBS put 13 million shares of My Travel Group up for sale for an institutional client.

Retailers saw gains, however. Next added 7.6 percent to £18.34, a new record high for the clothing retailer, on the news that its half-year report exceeded analyst expectations. This news also helped Marks & Spencer, which gained 2.6 percent to 611p.

Also ahead on the day was AWG, Anglian Water’s parent company, which was 3.3 percent higher to £13.62 on bids rumors. ICI gained 0.7 percent to 378¼p after there was talk that it could be considering a bid for rival specialty chemicals company Clariant.

Cable & Wireless added 1.2 percent to 128½p in anticipation of good news from its international division in a report due next week.