THE FTSE 100 Index reached a new record high today even as the pound hit a near five-year low against the US dollar.
London's top-flight was buoyed by relief over recent developments for debt-ridden Greece as it surged as high as 7095.4 during the session, surpassing its previous peak last month.
It closed 74.4 points higher at 7089.8, a new best-ever finish.
Anxieties over the eurozone were eased after the completion of a Greek debt repayment to the International Monetary Fund while there was further cheer with a surprise rise in the country's industrial production.
Germany's Dax was sharply ahead while France's Cac 40 also made gains. On Wall Street, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was ahead as investors digested latest corporate earnings reports.
In currency markets, the pound was under pressure as it reached its lowest level since just after the last General Election, amid continuing uncertainty over next month's poll and gloomy UK economic data.
Figures showing industrial production grew by just 0.1% in February amid a slump in the oil and gas sector, while the construction sector shrank by 0.9% - its second month of contraction in a row - weighed on sterling.
Economists said the figures appeared to indicate overall growth slowing from 0.6% in the final quarter of 2014 to 0.4% in the first quarter of this year. That would be the weakest pace of growth since the end of 2013.
Sterling dipped below 1.46 against the US dollar during the session, its lowest level since June 2010. It later pared back some of the losses but was still off by one cent at a little over 1.46. It was up slightly against the euro at just over 1.38.
In equities, house builders were boosted by an upgrade from Jefferies as it raised seven stocks from hold to buy and three from under perform to hold.
The broker said: "The latest data points to a stronger pre-election housing market than we had anticipated."
In the top flight, Taylor Wimpey rose 3% or 4.9p to 166.1p, Barratt Developments added 17p to 558p and Persimmon was 24p higher at 1757p.
Drugs firm Shire was the biggest FTSE 100 riser - recovering from heavy losses on Thursday - after US regulators promised a decision by October on the company's application to market a new drug for dry eye disease.
The stock lifted 5% or 260p to 5680p.
Outside the top flight, recruitment firm Hays was 1.4p cheaper at 162.4p as it said the general election had impacted on decision making among clients in the UK, although it stressed that overall market conditions remain good.
Elsewhere, shares in Majestic Wine added 5.5p to 323.2p after it bought online rival Naked Wines for up to £70 million.
The biggest FTSE 100 risers were Shire up 260p to 5680p, Aberdeen Asset Management up 22.5p to 507.5p, ITV up 9.3p to 270.6p and Barratt Developments up 17p to 558p.
The biggest FTSE 100 fallers were Kingfisher down 3.1p to 364p, CRH down 12p to 1797p, Rio Tinto down 15.5p to 2837p and Lloyds Banking Group down 0.4p to 79.3p.
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