FTSE soars to a close

Optimism ahead of results from the banking sector and a surprise rise in house prices helped the FTSE 100 Index surge by nearly 3% today.

Speculation of higher dividend payments from Barclays and Lloyds TSB this week saw the banks and their rivals dominate the index’s risers board, swelling the Footsie by 159 points to 5946.6 by the close.