October 17, 2006	Tuesday	Ramazan 23, 1427

LONDON, Oct 16: London's FTSE 100 index struck the highest level for more than five years on Monday in the wake of a record run on Wall Street which has benefited also Asian stocks.

The healthy state of world stock markets comes as positive corporate news and economic data is helping to offset concerns over weaker US economic growth ahead.

London's FTSE 100 index of leading shares gained 0.34 per cent to 6,178.30 points in morning trade. Earlier Monday it hit 6,181.00 points -- the highest level since February 16, 2001.

In Frankfurt, the DAX 30 index rose 0.11 per cent to 6,180.16 points and in Paris the CAC 40 index climbed 0.08pc to 5,357.33 points -- close to five-year peaks reached last week.—AFP