The London market closed more than 1% higher today after positive data in the US and a successful bond auction in Italy cheered investors.
The FTSE 100 Index staged a late push to close 59.4 points ahead after the US Labour Department said weekly unemployment claims over a four-week average declined for the fourth straight week to its lowest level since July 2008.
Banks were among the risers following the latest Italian debt auction, which raised around £5.9billion in medium and long-term debt, with Royal Bank of Scotland up 0.3p at 20.1p and Lloyds Banking Group 0.5p stronger at 25.5p.
In retail, Next was up 49p at £27.37 ahead of a trading update next week but Marks & Spencer’s rally on Wednesday proved short-lived as its shares fell 0.9p to 309.5p.
B&Q owner Kingfisher edged 2.8p higher to 248.8p while Superdry owner SuperGroup saw its shares lift 8.1p to 494.8p.
Meanwhile, shares in bus maker Optare were 4% lower at 0.58p after rival Alexander Dennis said it was no longer interested in gatecrashing the firm’s existing deal to hand a 75% stake to India’s Ashok Leyland.
The biggest Footsie risers were Smith & Nephew up 16.5p at 620p, Amec ahead 21p at 907.5p, Petrofac up 31p at £14.46 and ITV ahead 1.4p at 66.9p.
The biggest Footsie fallers were Polymetal down 17p at £10.92, Essar Energy off 2.4p at 168.6p, Vedanta Resources down 6p at £10.05 and Fresnillo off 4p at £15.02.
David Barclay, of investment manager and financial planning specialist Brewin Dolphin in Aberdeen, noted that Cairn Energy jumped 1.71% to 267.1p and Stagecoach added 1.56% to finish at 266.7p.
On the faller’s board, Parkmead fell 3.97% to 15.125p, Faroe Petroleum slipped 1.78% to 151.875p and Xcite Energy closed 0.29% lower at 87.5p.