FTSE closes up as Dubai worries fade

Britain's top share index the FTSE 100 closed up 0.29 per cent, 15.22 points, at 5,327.39 on Wednesday after record gains yesterday.

On Tuesday the index saw its largest one-day gain for more than four months as investors' worries over Dubai calmed.

Today miners gained as metal prices advanced and gold reached a record high, at 41,216.17 an ounce.

Drug-makers were also in demand, with AstraZeneca and GlaxoSmithKline up 0.4 and 0.2 percent respectively.

The banking sector felt the pressure, reversing Tuesday's gains, with RBS, HSBC, Lloyds and Standard Chartered losing between 0.5 and 2.1 per cent.