Dow Jones

The FTSE continued to feed off global optimism in early trading on Thursday, extending yesterday's 1.5% gain.

The FTSE finished at its highest closing level in more than five months today as investors were buoyed by the prospect of further fiscal stimulus in the US.

The FTSE climbed 1.1% this morning to 5724.37 after rumours of more quantitative easing from the Federal Reserve gained momentum last night.

The FTSE has powered higher this morning feeding off a healthy end to trading on Wall Street last week.

The FTSE slid into negative territory in afternoon trading following news of a record month-on-month drop in house prices.

The FTSE advanced almost 1% in late afternoon trading as investors shrugged off concerns relating to Ireland's credit rating downgrade and disappointing US economic data.

Global markets have rallied on the back of Japan's cut in interest rates, with the FTSE and Dow both up over one percentage point.

The catalyst for the "flash crash" on 6 May was a single trade by an institutional investor who sold $4.1bn of index futures, according to a new report released by US regulators.

London entered the final quarter of 2010 in positive mood with sentiment lifted by hints from incoming BP boss Bob Dudley the group is ready to restore the dividend payments suspended during the Gulf of Mexico crisis.

Wall Street saw its strongest September since 1939 despite lingering concerns over US economic growth.