New 21-month high reached by FTSE

The FTSE 100 has touched a new 21-month high after climbing 0.5 per cent during trading today (April 6th).

Investors who have used their personal wealth to purchase energy and mining stocks are likely to welcome the news, as it is these two categories that have helped the FTSE reach 5,772.11 points, Reuters reports.

BG Group, Royal Dutch Shell and BP were up by between 0.7 per cent and 1.2 per cent after the price of crude oil rose yesterday.

And increases in the prices of metals helped Eurasian Natural Resources, Xstrata and Kazakhmys climb by up to 1.7 per cent.

There was also good news for those who have invested in banking stocks, as they were broadly higher on the news Wilbur Ross - who specialises in turning around businesses - is backing Virgin money’s attempted purchase of Royal Bank of Scotland’s (RBS) branch network.

And people investing their personal wealth in the European markets will have seen a similar performance, as the FTSEurofirst 300 was 0.4 per cent higher in early trading.ADNFCR-2318-ID-19705147-ADNFCR