Footsie on course to finish week on high

Blue-chip shares made further strides today as the FTSE 100 Index looked on course to finish the week at a higher level than on Monday morning.

With the market strengthening as the session wore on, the Footsie reached lunchtime 17.1 points brighter at 4240.6 – a whisker away from its starting point following a decidedly mixed week for shares.