FTSE resists lending figures weakness

Weak lending figures failed to derail the London market today as traders took the FTSE Index higher on the back of a strong session in New York last night.

Relief that oil prices eased from the level of $70 seen early on Monday lay behind the improvement on Wall Street, helping the Footsie to resume after the extended holiday with a gain of 29.3 points to 5257.4 by mid-morning.