UK stocks : FTSE 100 index closes up 1 pct
UK stock closing: Britain's blue chip index posted its highest close in five years on Tuesday in a broad-based surge across all major sectors, as a strong German business sentiment survey supported a favourable technical picture.
The FTSE 100 extended gains in afternoon trade after a ZEW survey showed that German investor and analyst sentiment soared to its highest level in nearly three years this month, although investor sentiment on the current state of the German economy has yet to pick up.
"The ZEW outlook for 6-months down the road was much better than expected but the current situation was much worse," Nick Xanders, who directs European equity strategy at BTIG, said.
"People will see what they want to see, and right now all they want to see is the good news that lets them load the boat and buy stocks."
The FTSE 100 lagged major European peers, which were seen as benefiting more directly from the ZEW survey, with the German DAX up 1.7 percent and the French CAC up 2 percent.
"It's the second worst performing market in Europe today (behind Sweden), but I still like the FTSE," Xanders said, saying that its exposure to Asia as well as weak currency could both fuel a good performance from the index.
The FTSE 100 closed up 60.88 points, or 1 percent, at 6,379.07, the index's highest close since January 2008. Nine tenths of the index finished in positive territory.
Several stocks benefited from favourable broker coverage as well as a good appetite for equities. Rolls Royce
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