U.K. stocks rise: Xstrata, Kazakhmys, Vodafone lead the advance

LONDON. January 6. KAZINFORM U.K. stocks advanced for a fifth day, led by mining companies including Xstrata Plc and Kazakhmys Plc as copper prices rose. The benchmark FTSE 100 Index increased 41.07, or 0.9 percent, to 4,602.86 as of 8:14 a.m. in London. The FTSE All- Share Index also climbed 0.9 percent. Ireland?s ISEQ Overall Index added 1.6 percent.

Xstrata, the world?s fourth-largest copper producer, rallied 5.6 percent to 789 pence. Kazakhmys, the biggest producer of the metal in Kazakhstan, rose 5.9 percent to 270 pence. Copper prices gained for a fifth consecutive day in the London Metals Exchange. Vodafone Group Plc added 1.9 percent to 141.7 pence. The world?s largest mobile-phone company is close to signing a deal with France Telecom SA?s Orange unit to share the costs of technology, engineering and maintenance at their U.K. bases, the Observer reported, without citing anyone. The following stocks also rose or fell in the U.K. and Ireland. Stock symbols are in parentheses. JJB Sports Plc (JJB LN) jumped 0.84 pence, or 16 percent, to 6.1. The second-largest U.K. sporting-goods retailer will either revamp or close its Qube and Original Shoe Co. clothing stores after failing to find a buyer, the Sunday Times reported, citing Chairman David Jones. The stock jumped 29 percent on Jan. 2 after JJB named former Next Plc boss David Jones as executive chairman and hired a past head of Selfridges Plc to help halt a sales slump. Restaurant Group Plc (RTN LN) declined 7.5 pence, or 7.1 percent, to 98. The U.K. owner of the Frankie and Benny?s chain said sales fell in the last seven weeks as Britons ate out less because of the weakening economy.