FTSE up 2%

The FTSE 100 Index surged more than 2% ahead today as investors rode a wave of economic optimism and played catch-up after the bank holiday weekend.

Banking, mining and travel stocks all crowded the leaders’ board, ensuring a buoyant start to the week for the London market, which ended at its highest level since January. The Footsie closed 93.7 points ahead at 4336.9 in the wake of big gains on world markets on Monday.