41.   Dealers added that the strength of sterling and gains on the British bond market had also underpinned sentiment here.

42.   Foreign institutional investors remained relatively inactive, the dealer added.

43.   There will be no trading on Thursday because of a public holiday, dealers added.

44.   What is more, added one dealer, the large US investment funds which suddenly invaded the lucrative futures market have taken their profits and disappeared.

45.   Life insurers were also seen as sellers in Asian trade, the dealer added.

46.   London dealers added that they expected trading to be light in the absence of any major UK company news or economic indicators.

47.   Some rotational buying of laggards was evident, the dealer added.

48.   The dealer added that the sharp downturn on Wall Street had also thwarted buying interest.

49.   The dealer added that the stock had risen purely on the back of speculative buying.

50.   The dealer added foreign investors did not feel optimistic about B shares because the financial results of the listed companies held little promise.