ftse 100
The FTSE 100 was up almost 2% at close today Getty

BG Group lead blue chip companies on the FTSE 100 after the market rallied almost 2% after the Easter holiday.

The FTSE benchmark closed up 128.31 points, or 1.88%, at 6,961.77 and was spearheaded by energy giant BG - who own British Gas and Centrica - whose shares rose 6.7%.

Miner Rio Tinto, Shire, Coca-Cola and Royal Dutch Shell completed to list of the list's biggest risers. It followed a rise in the price of Brent oil to $58.12 - up 5.75%.

But the rise in oil prices hit British Airways owner International Airline Group (IAG), with shares down 1.2%.

There was positive news from the Markit/CIPS services purchasing managers' index (PMI) which monitors the manufacturing or service sector and recorded its biggest gain in more than a year.

"If this trend continues throughout the week, the UK index could return to the 7,000 level that has receded into the background over the past 10 days," Spreadex analyst Connor Campbell told Reuters.

FTSE 100 biggest risers

BG Group +57.50 (+6.74%) 910.40
Shire +225.00(+4.36%) 5,385.00
Rio Tinto +111.00 (+4.03%) 2,862.00
Coca-Cola +50.00(+3.91%) 1,329.00
Royal Dutch Shell +82.00 (+3.86%) 2,208.50

FTSE 100 biggest fallers

IAG -7.00 (-1.17%) 591.50
Direct Line Insurance -0.80 (-0.25%) 318.80
Burberry -1.00 (-0.06%) 1,714.00

The rise in oil prices was also a boon to energy firms on the AIM. Amerisur Resources lead the way with 17% rise in its share price.

AIM biggest risers

Amerisur Resources +3.50 (+17.07%) 24.00
Ithaca Energy +5.00 (+13.42%) 42.25
RWS Holdings +9.25 (+6.54%) 150.75
Sirius Minerals +0.56 (+5.99%) 9.91
Monitise +0.75 (+5.26%) 15.00

AIM biggest fallers

Tissue Regenix Group -1.00 (-5.97%) 15.75
Tungsten Corporation -9.00 (-4.19%) 206.00
Pan African Resources -0.50 (-4.08%) 11.75
RM2 International -2.00 (-3.51%) 55.00
Utilitywise -7.50 (-3.46%) 209.00

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