The FTSE 100 share index rose on Thursday following news that the Bank of England decided to keep interest rates at 5.0 per cent. The index was up 9.8 points to 6,270.8 by the end of the day (up 0.2 per cent).

Banks fell with Barclays, HBOS, Lloyds TSB, Royal Bank of Scotland and Standard Chartered all down 1.1-2.5 per cent.

Mining firms however saw their share values rise, with Antofagasta up 2.9 per cent, BHP Billiton up 2.9 per cent, Kazakhmys up 10.2 per cent and Lonmin up 6.1 per cent, Eurasian Natural Resources up 5.9 per cent and Xstrata up 1.9 per cent.

Oil companies BP and Royal Dutch Shell fell however.

Consumer goods company Unilever rose 5.4 per cent following good first quarter results. Next also rose 6 per cent and software firm Sage Group increased 7.4 per cent.

Carphone Warehouse was among the losers of the day, falling 3.4 per cent after saying it would sell a 50 per cent stake to US firm Best Buy. Pub-owner Enterprise Inns also fell 2.2 per cent.

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