BANKS and miners propelled London's FTSE 100 to its best day in more than four months last Friday as optimism around the US-China trade talks rose, but recent mixed signals on prospects of a deal still led the index to its worst week in two months.

The main bourse advanced 1.4 per cent with gains across the board, after slipping to a two-month low in the last session.

The more domestically-focused FTSE 250 rose 1.1 per cent and bagged its sixth straight week of gains.

Notable blue-chip performers included ad firm WPP which climbed three per cent on plans to return about $1.2bn (£920m) to shareholders, and Primark owner Associated British Foods added two per cent after it maintained its earnings target.

(c) 2019 City A.M., source Newspaper