Stock Market

Sterling jumped over 1-1/2 percent to a one-week high against the dollar on Thursday, boosted by a broad rally in equities and by data showing the first rise in UK house prices since late 2007. Optimism that Group of 20 leaders would agree on co-ordinated measures to tackle the global economic downturn at a summit in London lifted stock markets across the globe, with UK shares soaring by 3.2 percent.