The FTSE 100 surged 1.6% to 5,956.50 by lunchtime on Wednesday, driven by increased optimism over the strength of economic recovery and the potential for a coronavirus vaccine this year.It comes as a report from Nationwide Building Society showed a strong recovery in the housing market and said UK house prices increased by the most in 16 years, stoked by cut to stamp duty. Values rose 2% from a mo

The FTSE 100 opened 1% higher on Wednesday at 5,930 points driven by increased optimism over the strength of economic recovery.Overnight trading in Asian saw China's Shanghai Composite fall slightly while Japan's Nikkei 225 index gained 0.5%. Brent Oil was trading 0.8% higher to $46 a barrel while Gold sank 0.6% to $1,958 an ounce.The pound was slightly lower against the US dollar at $1.33.UK hous

Adventurous souls looking for new growth horizons could consider looking towards the Middle East & North Africa (MENA) region for opportunities. A falling oil price may have sent shockwaves across the MENA region and geopolitical risk remains, yet investors would be foolhardy to dismiss this region out of hand.Prospective investors are probably best served by a professional fund manager with a loc

The FTSE 100 is trading 39.3 points higher (0.57%) at 6,966 on mixed results from some of its largest companies.Imperial Tobacco (IMT) led the risers in early trading gaining 2.6% to £32.06 thanks to an upbeat outlook offsetting concerns over interim sales falling 5%.Supermarkets operator Sainsbury's (SBRY) cheapens 1.2% (3.35p) to 271.65p despite delivering slightly better-than-expected full-yea