The FTSE 100 Index marched further towards the 6000 mark as stocks shook off disappointing economic news in the UK and US.

Goodfella’s pizza and Fox’s biscuit firm Northern Foods today confirmed West Midlands tycoon Ranjit Boparan had requested access to its books amid speculation he is planning a £300m (€353m) bid.

Troubled restaurant group and fishmonger FishWorks saw its shares slump by more than 30% today after it announced that finance director Ratnesh Bagdai had resigned with immediate effect.