Footsie continues its rise
The FTSE 100 Index is continuing yesterday's strong gains to rise 11.7 points to 5220.8 - keeping its head above the 5,200 level.
Hopes of interest rate cuts are helping prices, and the Footsie's is being buoyed by a surge on Wall Street last night.
There traders are hoping for either a 25 or 50 basis point cut from the Federal Reserve tonight.
Markets are also hoping this will be followed by a cut by both the Bank of England and the European Central Bank on Thursday.
In London, better-than-expected figures from Cisco have helped give tech shares a boost. Logica has jumped 27p at 827p while Sage has lifted 6¼p at 235¼p.
Telecoms on the rise include Vodafone, ahead 5p at 171½p, and Cable & Wireless, up 12½p at 332½p.
But British Airways has slumped 6% after reporting a profits fall and warning of a full-year operating loss following the impact of the US attacks. Shares in the group fell 8½p to 146¾p.
M&S shares have added 3% - up 8¼p to 309½p - after showing it is on the road to recovery with a 20% jump in first-half profits.
