London's leading shares maintained their recent surge today to finish the session above the key psychological barrier of 4200.

The FTSE 100 index closed up 16.6 points at 4207, holding on to gains that had pushed it through the important 4200 threshold earlier in the session.

With hopes growing for an economic recovery, the Footsie rose to a nine-month high as analysts ticked off another landmark in the revival of the London market. The blue-chip index had dropped as low as 3271 in March.

The gains came despite a quiet day on Wall Street, where a lack of major corporate news was also affecting trading levels.

The day's biggest riser in London was confectionery group Cadbury Schweppes, up 12.25p at 365.5p.

Financial stocks also continued their recent upward run with insurer Prudential rising 10.25p to 399.25p, Friends Provident adding 1.25p to 129.25p, Barclays improving 8.25p to 475.5p and Bradford and Bingley up 7.25p to 355.25p. After an earlier fall, Abbey National recovered to end the day up 1p at 513p as investors digested a trading update.

Abbey said the foundations for its three-year overhaul were now in place, but that trading profits from its core financial services arm were running between ten per cent and 15 per cent below last year.

Another company looking to restructure, logistics and recruitment group Hays, fared better after updating the market on its strategic plans.

Shares in Hays, due to be relegated from the top flight next week, lost earlier gains to finish 0.75p down at 96.75p after reporting a good performance from the core personnel arm it intends to keep following a disposal programme.

Engine maker Rolls-Royce, due to replace Hays in the top flight, maintained a 1.5p rise to 134p, as shares continued their recent upward spiral after it announced more orders at the Paris Air Show.

Elsewhere in the Footsie, cigarettes group British American Tobacco gained 3p to 647p after announcing plans to restructure its operations in the UK and Canada. Rival Imperial Tobacco lifted 21.5p to 1061.5p.

Footballer David Beckham's transfer to Real Madrid also appeared to score with investors.

Manchester United shares closed up 4p at 149p following confirmation that the England midfielder will play at the Bernabeu next season in a deal worth up to £25m to United