Economics / Markets

The FTSE was up 27.5 points (0.5%) to 5271.63, buoyed by gains among mining firms.

The EU has stripped Greece of its vote at a crucial meeting next month - the worst humiliation ever suffered by an EU member state.

Boosting economic growth is more important than controlling inflation, advisers say.

The eurozone economy will only grow around 1% this year, according to the head of the single currency block.

UK inflation has hit 3.5%, prompting Mervyn King to write a letter of explanation to the Chancellor.

Bosses are being forced to make business loans on their credit cards because bankers are still refusing to lend them money.

Barclays has reported a 92% increase in full-year profits.

Barclays jumped 8% in early trade after posting bumper annual profits, helping the FTSE to a 1.2% gain.

The FTSE was up 40.81 points (0.84%) to 5,185.53, buoyed by news of a tie-up between British Airways and American Airlines.

Millions of Americans will now own a little piece of Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway after the company listed on the S&P500 after trading closed on Wall Street last week.