New high for FTSE

The London market hit a new 22-month high today amid decent economic news despite the growing prospect of an International Monetary Fund bail-out for Greece.

The IMF is sending a team to Athens at the request of the Greek Government, although investors instead focused on Chinese growth hitting a three-year high and strong US manufacturing figures.

The FTSE 100 Index closed 28.8 points ahead at 5825, although Wall Street's Dow Jones Industrial Average was sluggish in early trading after yesterday's 100-point surge.

The pound was flat against the dollar at just below 1.55, although it rose above 1.14 euros. The single currency dropped a cent against the dollar on more wobbles over Greece's precarious fiscal position.

Currency traders will also be keeping an eye on the debate between the UK's main political parties tonight, CMC Markets analyst Michael Hewson said.

"Tonight's UK leaders debates could well provoke some volatility in the pound if one of the leaders comes out a clear winner, which could send the pound higher - or it could merely reinforce fears of a "hung" parliament if none of the protagonists is able to land a knock-out blow," he said.

There was little in the way of corporate news in London to drive equity markets today, although banks enjoyed a strong session after an upgrade for European players from brokers at Exane BNP Paribas.

HSBC topped the Footsie leaderboard with a 20.5p rise to 712.5p or 3% while Barclays cheered 9.65p to 383.15p. Royal Bank of Scotland was 1p dearer at 46p and Lloyds Banking Group added 0.9p to 65.4p.

BP was also a gainer, cheering 9.9p to 653p as it rode out a protest resolution at its annual meeting calling for greater scrutiny of the assumptions behind its controversial Canadian oil sands project.

The leading Footsie faller was credit checking firm Experian, whose trading update flagged up a return to growth for its main North American market. Organic growth of 2% for the overall group disappointed the market however and left the shares down 18.5p or 3% at 616.5p.

Elsewhere annual figures from food producer Uniq said the current financial year had started well, but this was overshadowed after it posted a wider full-year loss due to continued pension woes.

The company, which makes sandwiches and desserts for retailers including Marks & Spencer, saw its share price fall 5p to 21.25p, or 19%.

Shares in easyJet lost ground after the disruption to services caused by ash from Iceland's volcanic eruption moving into UK airspace. Shares were 1.3p lower at 483.7p.

Another faller in the FTSE 250 was department store chain Debenhams following results yesterday. Despite forecast-beating profits and UBS lifting its target price on the company, shares in the firm were down 1.1p to 76.75p.

The biggest Footsie risers were HSBC up 20.5p at 712.5p, Petrofac ahead 36p at 1261p, Barclays up 9.65p at 383.15p and Shire up 33p at 1463p.

The biggest Footsie fallers were Experian down 18.5p at 616.5p, Home Retail Group off 6.4p at 287.6p, British American Tobacco down 38.5p at 2185.5p and Associated British Foods down 12p at 958p.