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The FTSE 100 was up nearly two per cent today, as the first day back after Christmas for traders brought a touch of festive cheer.

The index closed at 4,298.74 – a rise of 1.95 per cent or 82.15 points.

Leading the gains was Royal Bank of Scotland – which was up 9.84 per cent.

Standard Chartered rose 7.15 per cent, Cairn Energy gained 7.09 per cent, Old Mutual climbed 7.00 per cent and Vedanta Resources was up 6.89 per cent.

Property took a knock in particular, with Liberty International down 6.05 per cent and Hammerson falling 5.47 per cent.

Schroders Non-Voting was down 5.21 per cent, AMEC lost 3.89 per cent and Autonomy Corporation dropped 3.62 per cent.

In New York, the festive cheer had already rubbed off. The Dow Jones was down 0.85 per cent to 8,443.15.

In Europe, the Dax was up 1.63 per cent and the Cac 40 was up 0.47 per cent.

On the currency markets, sterling again suffered.

£1 was at $1.459 and €1.026, making €1 worth 97.5p.