FTSE hits 15-year high to bring record into sight

The FTSE 100 is within sight of its all-time high after closing at its highest level for 15 years on Tuesday.

The index gained 41 points, or 0.6%, to close at 6,898 yesterday, its second-highest close ever and the highest since December 1999. Stocks then opened higher again this morning on reports that Greece's new government is to ask for a six-month bailout extension, a move that would ease tensions with creditors following days of negotiations. The FTSE stood up 0.3% at 6,920 in early trading today, its highest intra-day level since 1999. Having surpassed the near-term closing high of 6,878 set last September, the index is once again in sight of the record close of 6,930 reached at t...