LONDON. July 9. KAZINFORM. U.K. stocks advanced, paced by Kazakhmys Plc, BHP Billiton Ltd. and Antofagasta Plc as copper climbed on supply concerns. Tate & Lyle Plc rose after Credit Suisse Group raised its recommendation for the sugar refiner's shares. Rolls Royce Group Plc gained after the company won a contract worth $1.3 billion. Rexam Plc advanced after Citigroup Inc. upgraded the stock, Kazinform cites Bloomberg. The benchmark FTSE 100 Index rallied 17.40, or 0.3 percent, to 6707.5 in London at 9:27 a.m. The FTSE All-Share Index gained 8.67, or 0.3 percent, to 3462.80. Ireland's ISEQ Index added 50.94 to 9502.10. Kazakhmys, Kazakhstan's biggest copper producer, added 2.3 percent to 1335 pence. BHP, the world's largest mining company, jumped 1.9 percent to 1544 pence. Antofagasta, owner of copper mines in Chile, rallied 1.4 percent to 672.5 pence. Copper prices rose in Asia on concern that supplies will be affected as labor unrest in Latin America threatens to further deplete global stockpiles that are at their lowest since December. The base metal advanced on the London Metal Exchange, rising $55 to $7915 a ton. Tate & Lyle, once the world's biggest sugar refiner, climbed 3 percent to 570.5 pence after Credit Suisse raised its recommendation for the company to ``outperform'' from ``neutral,'' citing low valuations and continued strength in commodities. Rolls Royce, the world's second-biggest aircraft-engine maker, rallied 1.3 percent to 558 pence. The company won an order from International Lease Finance Corp. for engines valued at $1.3 billion at list prices to power 40 Boeing 787 Dreamliners the plane-leasing company is buying. Rexam rallied 1.8 percent to 521.5 pence after Citigroup raised its recommendation for the world's biggest maker of cans for the beverage industry to ``buy'' from ``hold.'' The following stocks also gained or fell in the U.K. market. Stock symbols are in parentheses. Alfred McAlpine Plc (MCA LN) added 7 pence, or 1.6 percent, to 443.5. The company has asked JPMorgan Cazenove Ltd. to examine its operations and develop measures to bolster profit and returns to shareholders, the Financial Mail on Sunday reported, citing unidentified bankers. Bovis Home Group Plc (BVS LN) dropped 45.5 pence, or 4.9 percent, to 875 after the homebuilder said reservations were little changed in the first half as increased interest rates and mortgage costs led to a slowdown in the number of potential buyers viewing properties. Carpetright Plc (CPR LN) rallied 23 pence, or 2.1 percent, to 1138. Chief Executive Officer Philip Harris is talking with HBOS and Saudi investment company Olayan Group about a joint 900 million-pound ($1.8 billion) bid for the floor coverings retailer, the Daily Telegraph reported. Olayan owns about 15 percent of Carpetright, according to the newspaper. Talks are at an early stage, the Telegraph said. Debts.co.uk Plc (DETS LN) advanced 3 pence, or 3.6 percent, to 87. Chief Executive Officer Paul Carter may take the U.K. provider of services for indebted individuals and companies private after buying back its shares, the Sunday Express said, citing unidentified officials close to the company. Mitchells & Butlers Plc (MAB LN) jumped 10.5 pence, or 1.2 percent, to 883. The company is close to a deal with real-estate investor Robert Tchenguiz that would see the owner of the O'Neill's pub chain spin off most of its property assets in a joint venture worth close to 5 billion pounds, the Observer said, without citing sources. Amanda Lee, an external spokeswoman for Mitchells & Butlers at Finsbury Ltd., declined to confirm or deny the report when contacted by Bloomberg News. Premier Foods Plc (PFD LN) dropped 14.75 pence, or 5 percent, to 278.75. The maker of Branston condiments and Hovis bread said it plans to sell a unit that makes frozen foods under retailers' own names and forecast annual profit in line with managers' expectations. The division to be sold was acquired when the company bought competitor RHM Plc. Shire Plc (SHP LN) lost 17 pence, or 1.4 percent, to 1234 after JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered its recommendation for the U.K.'s third-largest drugmaker to ``neutral'' from ``overweight.'' To contact the reporter on this story: Sarah Jones in London at sjones35@bloomberg.net 09.07.07