Overall, trading was very thin with just under 500m shares changing hands during Wednesday's session. The FTSE 100 eventually closed up 43.72 points to 5372.38 – 10 points shy of its year high – and the FTSE 250 put on 45.84 points to 9194.39. It was the third day in a row that the blue-chip index finished in positive territory, prompting renewed chatter the FTSE 100 will rally until the New Year.