Pick of the early market news

After earlier mid-week exuberance, the FTSE 100 fell back 10.48 points yesterday finishing Wednesday at 5,945 points. The positive sentiment endured across Europe with the German Dax rising 1.19% and the French Cac 40 climbing 0.40%.

Stateside, the Dow Jones continued to lift, rising 0.12% to 13,194. Overnight, Japanese shares extended yesterday's gains.