FTSE boosted by earnings ahead of election

Imperial Tobacco Group rose 1.8 percent after it stood by its outlook for the remainder of the year, despite reporting a 5 percent decline in underlying tobacco sales volume in the first half of its fiscal year. Peer British American Tobacco rose 0.6 percent after Imperial Tobacco's results. Imperial Tobacco was the top riser on Britain's blue-chip FTSE 100, which was up 26.43 points, or 0.4 percent at 6,954.01 by 0756 GMT.