Seven-in-a-row as FTSE 100 gains again

Investors received further Christmas cheer today after the FTSE 100 Index stretched its run of gains to a seventh consecutive session.

The Footsie is now at a 17-month high following the latest modest rise, an improvement of 12.8 points to 4457.5.

The positive run has been in thin Christmas trading, although Hilary Cook, of Barclays Stockbrokers, said the performance was still encouraging.

She added: “We can’t read too much into this as volumes have been light but it’s encouraging that we have put the 4400 barrier behind us without the need to resort to profit taking.”

The Footsie started 2003 at 3940.4, then sunk to 3287 in March – the lowest point since the summer of 1995 – before embarking on a sustained rally.