FTSE 100 ends week strong with biggest gain in two months

The FTSE 100 ended the week strongly as it gained 0.61 per cent during Friday's session and saw its biggest weekly increase for two months.

The index continued its six-month high, outshining its European peers despite the on-going Brexit saga.

Optimism grew early on as US President Donald Trump said a deal to end the US-China trade war could be agreed within the next four weeks.

While there was also another boost from the US as better-than-expected jobs data eased fears of a global economic slowdown.

The blue-chip stocks got a boost from the sterling, which weakened against the dollar on further Brexit delay news, with 70 per cent of their profits coming in US dollars.

There was also positive news from oil companies Shell and BP, both of which surged more than 1 per cent as oil prices rose on news that the conflict in Libya could disrupt supply for OPEC members.

Miners also rose 0.8 per cent following support for higher Zinc prices.