Shares of energy companies, utilities, industrial businesses and retailers also closed higher.

Nechestny grabbed the opportunity for a major buy back Stock closed two and a half points higher than the opening price.

The most important of these were pharmaceutical stocks, which as a group closed higher.

The shares hit 750p and closed 36p higher at 669p.

There were seven consecutive sessions where the April contract closed higher.

There were 699 Big Board issues closing higher and 872 lower.

In Tokyo, stocks closed higher as the yen rose against the dollar.

After three mood changes, the stock market closed higher yesterday in active trading.

In occasionally active trading it closed 16p higher at 635p after touching 648p.

There were 657 Big Board issues closing higher and 853 lower.