London’s blue-chips made firm advances today as financial and housebuilding stocks returned to form.

Foster’s brewer Scottish & Newcastle promoted an insider to its top job today after confirming the departure of chief executive Tony Froggatt.

The new owner of Foster’s lager in Europe wasted no time today in unveiling plans for the brand’s first major UK launch in more than 10 years.

Brewing giant Scottish & Newcastle today announced an 11% rise in underlying profits after benefiting from a strong trading performance in the UK.