London equities markets were up on Tuesday even though shares in online gaming companies fell sharply, as utilities saw gains on the strength of a possible bid for Scottish Power. The FTSE 100 gained 0.4 percent to 5,359.2 and the FTSE 250 was up 0.1 percent to 7,795.4.

The online gaming stocks were down amid indications that the popularity of online poker is beginning to slow as recruitment of new players is down and yields per player are lower. Party Gaming was down 33 percent to 105p and BetOnSports lost 13.8 percent to 144p.

Money transfer groups that rely on online gaming for their business were also down. NeTeller fell by 6.9 percent to 841½p, while FireOne was down 11.3 percent to 430p. In addition, Sportingbet, currently in negotiations to merge with Empire Online, declined by 16.2 percent to 311p. The exception in the sector was ubet2win, which added 11.8 percent to 7.12p on the news that it had signed a contract with Victor Chandler International.

Advances in the utilities sector were triggered by a rumored bid for Scottish Power by German company Eon, which raised expectations for the possibility of other mergers. Centrica, which owns British Gas, gained 3.6 percent to 263p.

Water company Kelda was up 2.7 percent to 723½p. Scottish Power and National Grid each added 2.2 percent, to 555¾p and 561p respectively. Electricity groups were also up. International Power gained 2.5 percent to 239½p, while Scottish & Southern Energy was up 1.5 percent to £10.30.