FTSE 100 at 18-month high

The FTSE 100 smashed through the 6,000 barrier on Wednesday as investors celebrated the US deal averting tax hikes and spending cuts that risked pushing the world's largest economy into recession. By 1143 GMT London's blue chip index rose 127.32 points, or 2.1 per cent to 6,025.13, breaking above the 6,000 level for the first time since July 2011, driven by big gains in miners and banks. The gains echoed the New Year's Eve rally on Wall St, which was the biggest final-day gain in the S&P 500 since 1974.