It did not come easily, and there was a sharp struggle between bulls and bears around the lunchtime period, but the FTSE 100, the London equity market's main benchmark, eventually managed to record a sixth straight gain yesterday. At the end of a rather frantic session, featured by another sharp increase in volume, Footsie closed 11.5 ahead at 6,447.0. That extended its advance over the past six sessions to 195 points, or 3.1 per cent.
Telecoms provided the stock market with its centre of attention and its most heavily traded stock in Thus, the telecoms and internet group which made its debut after being demerged from Scottish Power. Thus shares, issued at 310p, almost penetrated the 400p mark shortly into the day, only to retreat sharply later in the session.
Turnover in equities reached 1.62 billion shares, the highest daily total this year. Thus topped the list, with 149 million traded, followed by Vodafone AirTouch with 63 million.
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