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The FTSE 100 index ended up a fraction - 0.8% up at 7,556.38. The upward momentum came largely from the mining stocks, which were encouraged by news of new talks between China and the US on the trade "war".

Shares in Antofagasta, Glencore, Fresnillo , Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton all rose between 0.9 and 2.5%

The pound was stronger - but it was too weak a recovery to be convincing. Retail sales numbers came in better than had been expected, which encouraged sterling to raise its head from its sick bed, wavering above $1.27, but looking as though it might fall back at any moment.

But such weakness only inspires dollar earning stocks: the miners I have mentioned, but BP and Royal Dutch Shell also added points to the index, rising 0.6% and 1% respectively. The big loser was of the day was the retailer Kingfisher. The shares were down 4.8% as its poorperformance in France upset its investors

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