By Sarah Turner, MarketWatch LONDON (MarketWatch) -- Shares of Prudential plc jumped Monday, helping London's FTSE 100 index rise, after a report that it may sell a 20% stake in itself in order to build up its Asian operations. Prudential saw its shares rally 13.8%, making the insurer by far the best percentage performer in the top London index The Times (of London) newspaper reported that the firm is mulling selling a 20% stake, worth about 1.3 billion pounds, to potential investors from the Gulf and the Far East. Prudential would use any funds raised to buy Asian operations of American International Group , the newspaper reported without citing sources. Additionally, the paper reported that Prudential isn't under pressure to bolster its balance sheet. Still, many other insurers traded in the red again on Monday, with shares of Standard Life trading down 5.9%, RSA Insurance losing 7.8% and Friends Provident retreating 5.6%. Overall, the FTSE 100 advanced 1.8%, adding 72.90 points to 4,135.91. Other European shares were also trading higher, while U.S. stock futures were pointing to a positive start across the Atlantic. See Europe Markets. See Indications. Libor eases Most banks traded higher in London, with Royal Bank of Scotland (UK:RBS: news, chart, profile) up 6.4%, Barclays up 6.9% and Lloyds TSB up 3.6%. A key measure of short-term dollar borrowing costs, the London interbank offered rate posted a large drop, as money markets continue to ease in response to massive liquidity injections, bank bailouts and guarantees. See full story. Meanwhile, shares of oil and gas producers got a boost from stronger light sweet crude-oil futures. The contract climbed $1.85 to $73.98 a barrel in electronic trading ahead of an OPEC meeting this week. The cartel brought the meeting forward from November, prompting speculation that it may cut members' production quotas.

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