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The FTSE index jumped 51.70 points to 5,441.44 on the last full day of trading before the market takes a break for Christmas, reports Reuters.
Traders continued to hold back to an extent, however, with volumes representing less than five per cent of the 90-day daily average.
Mic Mills, head of electronic trading at ETX Capital, told the news provider it looked as though the Santa rally had finally arrived, but warned against over-confidence.
"Given the thin volumes, lack of any news and focus on the mince pies, it would not take much to make the market run for cover as it did yesterday," he said.
European stocks slumped yesterday, despite the ECB's efforts to maintain cash flow around the continent by offering unlimited three-year loans to eurozone countries.
Posted by Greg Secker
