FTSE rallies to a close

Signs of a revival in merger and acquisition activity helped the FTSE 100 Index power above the 6600 barrier today.

A joint venture between SABMiller and Molson Coors and a potential £1.5 billion bidding war for oil exploration company Burren were taken positively as the Footsie climbed more than 1%, or 74.5 points to 6615.4.