FTSE up almost 50 points

The FTSE 100 Index pushed away from the 6000 barrier today as miners surged following a commodities rally that saw the price of oil hit fresh highs.

The traditional safe haven of gold set a new record of $1,474 an ounce, while silver was at its highest since the early 1980s as supply concerns lifted Brent crude to a two-and-a-half year high of $125 a barrel.