The prospect of another burst of takeover activity involving numerous FTSE 100 stocks and a series of powerful performances from global markets lured investors back in droves into London's equity market yesterday.
That potent mixture of booming global markets, intense bid speculation and a steep rise in crude oil prices - which lifted the heavily-weighted oil majors - saw the FTSE 100 re-cross the 6,600 at one stage but just fail to finish the session at a record closing high.
It settled a net 100.1 higher at 6,592.0 - its third best ever close - having hit a session best of 6,609.9, up 115.0, in mid-afternoon.
But while the FTSE 100 stumbled at the final hurdle there was no reining in the FTSE 250 which hit record intraday and closing highs. The 250 eventually finished 39.9 ahead at a record closing level of 5,975.0, after reaching a peak 5,939.7.
Similarly, the FTSE-All Share index managed to end the session at a closing high of 3,059.78, up 41.32, having hit 3,064.61, but fell short of its previous intraday peak of 3,072.43, attained on May 4th this year.
