THE FTSE 100 Index edged past the 6000 mark for the first time since June 2008 yesterday in a last-minute push before the market closed.

The FTSE closed 12.58 points up at 5996.07, shortly after hitting a high of 6000.55, as traders gathered pace in a year-end Santa Rally.

But with trading volumes thin ahead of the Christmas holidays and little in the way of corporate or UK economic news, stocks struggled to push higher.

Investors were subdued by economic data from the US, which revealed a bigger than expected drop in durable goods orders and a smaller than projected increase in consumer spending for last month.

A threat by North Korea to embark on a “sacred war” against the South using nuclear weapons also shook confidence, but not enough to stop the FTSE 100 hitting that allimportant mark.

Oil giant BP was among the blue chip stocks making gains in London, climbing 6.7p to 476.7p, after oil prices approached a twoyear high, boosted by data showing a drop in US oil stocks ahead of an unexpected surge in global demand.

Retailers were also prominent on the risers board, with hopes high for the busiest shopping day in the UK.

Marks & Spencer rose 1.4p to 374.4p, while B&Q parent Kingfisher added 5.6p to 263.7p and supermarket Sainsbury’s lifted 4.7p to 381.7p.

The retail sector has had a poor run recently as the severe weather has kept potential shoppers away from the high street.

The travel sector has felt the cold weather as well, as traders were shaken by the impact that flight cancellations would have on the industry.

British Airways fell 0.4p to 273.2p, but TUI Travel raced to the top of the risers’ board and added 6p to 247.5p.