Around the World's Markets: London

THE FTSE 100 set its highest close in three-and-a-half months as oil giant BP Amoco powered higher and the Chancellor reassured markets with an upbeat pre-Budget report.

With market heavyweights HSBC, British Telecom and SmithKline also on the rise, the FTSE 100 ended up 61.2 points, or 0.96 per cent, at 6,435.5. BP Amoco, the market's biggest stock, extended Monday's gains to put on another 5.3 per cent to 596p.

Market Report, page 22