The FTSE 100 Index is on the verge of a record-breaking run after it closed higher for the tenth day in a row.

It means trading today could match three previous occasions when the index has climbed 11 successive times – which would be the first time this has happened since the recession of 2008.

The top-flight has improved every day this month and although yesterday’s rise was a relatively lacklustre 7.5 points to 6693.6, it was still another increase – with a soaring easyJet topping the movers table.

It came as the pound received a boost after Bank of England governor Sir Mervyn King predicted a “modest and sustained” recovery for the UK economy.

The Bank said growth should pick up to 0.5 per cent in the second quarter of this year although it also warned inflation was likely to remain above target for longer than expected. Sterling was up by more than 0.5 per cent against the euro at 1.18, though slightly down against the US dollar at 1.52.

Germany’s Dax and France’s CAC 40 were up a little despite disappointing GDP data, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average in the US also made modest gains.

Low-cost airline easyJet set the pace in the FTSE 100 Index, with a rise of eight per cent, or 94p, to 1224p, as it took advantage of Britons fleeing the winter deep freeze and rival capacity cuts to reduce losses by 46 per cent to £61m.

The airline said it expected another strong summer of growth, helping its shares continue a run which has propelled it into the FTSE 100.

Its update lifted fellow carrier and holiday firm TUI Travel, which was up 8.2p to 355.4p, a two per cent gain.

Water company Severn Trent recovered after losing ground following its rejection of a takeover approach from an overseas consortium.