FTSE pauses for breath after huge jump

London's leading blue chip share index held firm at its 13-month high today in calmer trading following yesterday's 2% surge.

Commodity stocks eased back a little as the FTSE 100 Index paused for breath - down nine points at 5247.1 - after a stellar previous session for global stock markets, which also saw the Dow Jones Industrial Average break the 10,000 barrier.