Bright US data lifts markets

As at 3pm, the FTSE was up 0.4%, or 20 points, to 5540 as London's leading share index staged an afternoon recovery following better-than-expected US retail sales and manufacturing figures. Just two hours ago, the index was down 1.4%, or 78 points, to 5,440. The feel-good factor is echoed in Germany with the Dax - down nearly 2% at 1pm - now making gains of 0.1%. However, France's Cac 40 is still languishing in the red, down 1.2%. The Dow Jones has opened trading in positive territory, up 0.05% to 1,2085 after a spate of positive economic figures helped allay ongoing eurozone conce...