Private wealth in shares appreciates as FTSE trades above 5,400

Private wealth invested in the stock market may have appreciated this week, as the FTSE 100 index traded above 5,400 points following good performances from many blue chip companies.

TD Waterhouse reported its customers - both those investing private wealth and brokers working on clients' behalf - doubled their overall trading, as a number of banking groups revealed good revenues from the first half of the year.

And private wealth in financial stock may have done best, as trading in this sector rose 52 per cent following good data from high-street lenders Lloyds, Barclays and Royal Bank of Scotland.

Oil giant BP also strengthened its position, moving to first place in the top-ten buys of the week, as the cap continues to hold on the Deepwater Horizon well that has been leaking into the Gulf of Mexico since April.

Mining groups also performed well, with Britain's top share index rising 0.4 per cent yesterday on the back of gains from Rio Tinto and platinum producer Lonmin, reported Reuters. ADNFCR-2318-ID-800024454-ADNFCR