THE London market shrugged off mixed data from the US yesterday as firmer metal and oil prices helped commodity-based stocks make headway.

While the top flight was off highs for the session, the FTSE 100 Index still closed up 32.5 points at 5956, having broken a fiveday losing streak on Wednesday.

Trader confidence was knocked after a key economic indicator in the US, the Philadelphia Fed Index, which measures changes in business growth, gave a weakerthan- expected reading for May.

The London market pressed ahead after a strong run for miners and upbeat retail figures for April, although commodities firm Glencore’s market debut fell flat after a promising start.

Glencore’s shares were priced at 530p, giving it a market value of more than £36bn, in London’s biggest stock market listing.

There were hopeful signs as the newcomer raced on to 548p but the first session of conditional trading finished with the company flat on its opening price.

A rebound in metal prices, after three days of declines, saw platinum miner Lonmin add 23p to 1538p and Eurasian Natural Resources lift 4.5p at 845.5p.

Energy firms were lifted by stronger oil prices, with Brent crude holding at $111 (£68) a barrel, as Petrofac added 57p to 1528p, BG Group was up 15p at 1388p and BP lifted nearly two per centto 447.9p.

The retail sector was given a lift after figures showed the royal wedding and warm weather last month triggered a 1.1 per cent surge in volumes.

High street retailer Marks & Spencer was up 6.8p at 399.9p, B&Q parent Kingfisher was ahead 6p at 285p and clothing retailer Next added 26p at 2268p.