The FTSE 100 has surged through the 5,500 barrier to end the day's trading up 19.3 points, or 0.35%, to 5,517.2, as PartyGaming and buoyant insurers overshadowed weak utilities and miners.
Online poker giant PartyGaming topped the leaderboard with gains of 7p, or 7.07%, to 106p, as the decision to pull out of talks with Empire Online has been seen as a sensible move, with legal action from its smaller rival not expected to succeed. Insurers were also in demand as investors piled into the sector following the recent rally in global equity markets. Royal & Sun Alliance advanced 2.75p, or 2.5%, to 112.75p, while Legal & General gained 2.5p, or 2.24%, to 114.25p. Oil stocks gave the market a boost as crude prices extended yesterday’s gains, adding around $0.95 a barrel to $58...
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