FTSE flat after closing at two-month high

The FTSE 100 opened flat on Wednesday after closing at its highest level for more than two months last night.

The blue chip index, buoyed by a risk-on attitude from traders as well as positive data in the US and Asia, climbed 2.3% to 5,700 points yesterday.

It marked its highest close since late October when it finished at 5,714 points. This morning it remained near the two-month high, sitting ten points higher at 10.25am.

Elsewhere overnight, markets soared, with the Dow Jones up 1.5% to 12,397 points in the US, while the S&P 500 climbed 1.56% to 1,277 points.

Better than anticipated numbers from US manufacturers helped lift shares and boost sentiment.

In Asia shares were mixed with the Nikkei up 1.2% at 8,566 points, while the Hang Seng Index fell 0.4% to 18,802 points.