RENEWED economic optimism helped the FTSE 100 Index push past the 6000 mark yesterday, despite profit taking on America’s top share index.

News of a rebound in the UK construction sector added to cheer over upbeat manufacturing data in both the UK and US the previous session.

The FTSE closed 42.3 points higher at 6000.1 after Tuesday’s 1.6 per cent surge despite a lacklustre start to trading on Wall Street.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average clung to its opening mark, with little support offered by decent earnings reports from Time Warner, chocolate maker Hershey and AOL.

Survey data showing a rebound in the UK construction sector last month after a snow-hit December helped extend gains in London.

Commodity firms were among those stocks benefiting the most. Lonmin was the sector’s biggest gainer, up 69p to 1768p, while Rio Tinto followed with a 163.5p gain to 4507.5p.

Banks joined in the rally, led by HSBC with a 13.7p rise to 701.4p.

Lambert and Butler maker Imperial Tobacco was the star performer on the FTSE 100 as its trading update revealed a return to sales growth.

The cigarette firm rose six per cent, or 106p to 1900p as it said sales volumes lifted 1.2 per cent and underlying net revenues rose five per cent in the three months to December 31.

News that chemicals company Johnson Matthey expects its full-year performance to come in slightly ahead of forecasts failed to inspire shares, which fell 18p to 1983p.

A number of stocks also dropped into the red as they turned ex-dividend.

This saw under-pressure tour operator TUI Travel suffer further losses. Its shares, which have been hit by the Egypt crisis in recent days, fell 4.5p to 247p.