FTSE 'bullish' as shares outperform house prices

Investors in the London stock market were hoping for another bullish year today after a strong rally in 2005 saw the FTSE 100 Index rise 16.7% and shares outperform house prices for the first time since 1999.

Soaring metal and oil prices pushed mining stocks and energy stocks up as the index of leading shares reached a four-and-a-half year high of 5647.2 yesterday before retreating 19.5 points today to end the year at 5618.8.