GLOBAL markets were on the front foot yesterday as upbeat economic data boosted hopes over a return to form for the FTSE 100 Index in the second half of the trading year.

The London market closed up 92.3 points at 6307.8.

Confidence was also boosted by economic news in Japan and there was also better-than-expected news for Bank of England governor Mark Carney during his first day in office.

And while figures showed gains in US manufacturing and construction, factory employment was lower than expected, dampening fears over an imminent end to US economic stimulus.

Construction firms headed up the FTSE 100, after Bank of England figures showed more signs of recovery in the housing market, with approvals for home loans rising to their highest level in three-anda- half years in May.

Building materials firm Travis Perkins was up 75p to 1531p, while housebuilder Persimmon gained 59p to 1240p.

It was a decent session for clothing retailers on hopes the warm weekend weather brought shoppers to the high street.

Marks and Spencer was 11.4p higher at 442.1p, while rival Next lifted 90p to 4648p. But there was no such for lift for supermarket Morrisons, which featured on a shortened fallers board, down 1.6p to 260.2p.

Tour operator TUI Travel was 8p higher at 364.9p after it announced a £300m bank credit facility. The company said the threeyear agreement will improve balance sheet flexibility and strength.

Construction firm Balfour Beatty moved in the opposite direction after Liberum Capital downgraded the stock to sell amid disappointment over trading in the first half of the year. Shares were 3.5 per cent or 8.4p lower at 230p in the FTSE 250 Index.