Around the World's Markets: London

THE FTSE 100 closed 0.3 per cent higher at 6,533.6 - just 87 points shy of its closing record of 6,620.6 in July, lifted by speculation that mobile-phone giant Vodafone was poised to launch the biggest hostile takeover bid in history.

Vodafone pared early losses to finish 0.9 per cent lower, as initial concerns that the mobile giant may overpay for the German group Mannesmann eased. Orange - the target of a $31bn bid from Mannesmann - was the FTSE 100's biggest gainer with a 9.1 per cent rise. Market report, page 25