The FTSE 100 Index pushed back above the 5,000 mark today as renewed talk of Qatari interest in Sainsbury's thrust the UK's third biggest supermarket into the takeover spotlight.

Sainsbury’s shares jumped 4% today as takeover rumours continued to surround the UK’s third biggest supermarket.

Oil companies surged on consolidation hopes today after explorer Burren Energy said it had shunned “a number” of approaches worth up to £1.54bn (€2.2bn).