News in brief: House prices fall

House prices have fallen for the third month in a row, dropping 0.1% in January according to Nationwide. Annual house-price inflation is down at 4.2%, the lowest rate for two years, and the average house price has dropped to £180,473 from £182,080 in December.

Dearer energy

Scottish Power has become the latest energy supplier to announce price rises. The group, which has 5.2m customers, said electricity prices will rise by an average of 14%, with gas prices up by 15%. The move follows rises at EDF, British Gas and Npower.

Footsie boosted by mining stocks

- The FTSE 100 closed up 160 points at 6,029, boosted by takeover talk in the mining sector centred on Rio Tinto.

Over the past 12 months the index has fallen by 2.8%

Over three years the index is up by 24.3%

Over five years the index has risen by 69%

FKI had the biggest gain, up 39% to 67p

Vanco fell the most, down 44% to 101p