London stocks lifted by mining rally London's equity markets were moving higher at the open on Tuesday, helped by results, gains in the mining sector and an overnight rally in Tokyo. The FTSE 100 was up 0.5 per cent at 66,05.37, encouraged by Tokyo closing 2.6 per cent higher but awaiting key inflation data later this morning. The biggest riser on the main index was Resolution, up 4.5 per cent at 338p, after the life assurance group reported a 17 per cent rise in first-half pre-tax operating profit to £191m - slightly ahead of analyst expectations. Rival Prudential dipped, however, after a 4.1 per cent rise on Monday following its bumper first-half profits. Its shares were 0.6 per cent lower at £12.25. Fresnillo, the gold and silver miner, was also near the top of the leader board again, up 4 per cent to £11.47 with analysts predicting a sustained rise in precious metal prices. Miners formed the backbone of the morning's gains. Glencore Xstrata rose 2.2 per cent to 308.2p, Rio Tinto added 1.8 per cent to £32.48 and Randgold Resources climbed 1.6 per cent to £49.17. In the red column, Old Mutual fell 2.2 per cent to 196.7p after Nomura downgraded the Africa-focused insurer from buy to neutral. UK inflation figures for July were due at 9.30am London time, with German economic sentiment data following half an hour later. Analysts expect improved numbers from both countries.