The FTSE 100 Index surged to its second-highest ever close today amid further signs central banks will keep the printing presses rolling.
The London market rose 36.4 points to 6,840.3, a 0.5% gain, as the US Federal Reserve said it was too soon to call time on its massive money-printing drive.
The only time the FTSE 100 has closed higher was in December 1999, when the dotcom boom drove the top tier to a record finish of 6,930.2 points.
Shares in Lloyds Banking Group continued to rise after a positive update on its capital strength. Lloyds insisted it would not need additional help to meet regulatory demands for a bigger buffer against future financial shocks. Shares closed up 1.43p at 62.96p, as it moves further away from the 61.2p barrier at which the UK Government said it would break even on its 2008 bailout.
Royal Bank of Scotland shares were also higher after it told the Prudential Regulation Authority that it could meet its capital shortfall through existing means. The stock was 7.4p higher at 349.6p.
Energy giant SSE ended down 14p at £16.62 however, despite reporting another bumper set of profits.
Drinks company Britvic jumped 11% in the FTSE 250 Index after it reported a 50% surge in pre-tax profits to £37.5million and said it would cut costs by another £30million. Shares were 50.3p higher to 522.5p.
The biggest risers on the FTSE 100 were Antofagasta 38p ahead to £10.02, Barclays up 10.6p to 333.9p, Astrazeneca up 91p to 3,485.5p and easyJet 33p ahead to £12.85.
The biggest fallers on the FTSE 100 were BSkyB down 19.5p to £7.79, Morrisons off 6.7p to 282.6p, Evraz down 3.4p to 155.4p and CRH 28p lower to £14.14.
Barry Shepherd, of investment manager and financial planning specialist Brewin Dolphin in Aberdeen, noted that risers included Wolfson Microelectronics, which added 0.9% to £2.19, while Standard Life gained 1.2% to 421.7p and Bowleven closed 4.3% higher at 76.63p.
Fallers included EnQuest, which lost 0.8% to 136.85p, Premier Oil shed 1.1% to 377.85p and Cairn Energy finished 1.3% down at 287.8p.
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