Economics / Markets

The FTSE continues its steady week climbing 58 points, or 0.89%, to 6691 in early trading this morning.

In London, markets climbed as Northern Rock's share price continued to recover and the FTSE 100 was up 17.6 points, or 0.27%, to 6,633.

Shares in Northern Rock climbed in early trading today, spurred on by a pledge from Alistair Darling that the Government would release a statement concerning the troubled bank "later this week".

THE UK's economic growth will be slower than previously forecast next year, the chancellor, Alistair Darling, announced in the pre-budget report (PBR).

In London, markets closed up, helped by the recovery of Northern Rock, and the FTSE 100 was up 74.5 points, or 1.14%, to 6,615.4.

In London, recovery in the financial sector helped push markets up, and the FTSE 100 gained 32.5 points, or 0.5%, to 6,573.4.

PETER Bickley, director of economics at Tilney, has countered suggestions that interest rates are certain to fall in the coming months.

The FTSE 100 has started the week down as miners struck losses for the index, closing 54.9 points lower, or 0.83%, to 6540.9.

The FTSE fell 2.8 points, or 0.04%, this morning to 6593p.

RICHARD Moore, manager of Abbey UK Growth, has outlined his caution over the domestic market, characterised by tighter lending criteria which he said is keeping the consumer under pressure.