Britain’s leading index set a new record high and sealed an historic winning streak, after it rose for a twelfth consecutive trading sessions.

The FTSE smashed the 7,300 barrier in intraday trade for the first time in its 33-year history, touching a fresh all-time peak of 7,328.51 in afternoon trade, before closing up 15.02 points, or 0.21pc, to 7,290.49. It has now also registered ten record closing values in a row.

Since the winning streak began on December 22, the blue chip index has chalked up gains of 3.7pc. Although the winter rally has shown it has “considerable legs”, Laith Khalaf, of Hargreaves Lansdown, cautioned: “It won’t go on forever.”