The FTSE 100 index of Britain's leading shares joined a global year-end rally to end higher on Wednesday amid merger and acquisition talk and supported by banks and mining stocks, according to Reuters. Eighty-four of the index's stocks ended higher as major world indexes rallied and after Asian markets struck record highs, while thin trading volumes accentuated market moves in the quiet but upbeat end-of-year trading period. The FTSE 100 index closed 55.2 points, or 0.89 percent, higher at 6,245.2. The world's largest hotelier InterContinental Hotels hit a record high amid M&A talk that helped spur global indexes as investors returned from their Christmas holidays. The hotelier gained 2.6 percent on speculation that overseas companies and private equity could be interested in acquiring the group at around 15 pounds a share, traders said. InterContinental was not immediately available for comment. "The thing that has been driving us forward has certainly been M&A. It has added extra momentum behind what is traditionally a positive end to the year," said Edward Menashy, an economist and strategist at Charles Stanley.
