London's leading shares index closed ahead for the fifth day in a row yesterday as positive jobs data in the US offset fears over a slowdown in China.
The FTSE 100 Index rose 5.6 points to a fresh four-month high of 5851.5 after the US Labor department saw a 6000 decline in weekly jobless claims.
The figures helped the London market keep its head above water after China's industrial-output growth slowed in July to a three-year low. The pound dipped to 1.56 against the US dollar after news the UK trade deficit widened to a record level in June. Sterling was still up against the weakened euro, however, at 1.27.
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