Mining stocks raise FTSE to one-year high

Gains of more than 5% for a string of mining stocks helped the FTSE 100 Index surge to its highest point in a year today.

The Footsie suffered a slump in tandem with US markets yesterday, but this was quickly forgotten as the top flight recouped all of the losses to stand 92.4 points higher at 5246.5 by mid-morning.