Rank Group was one of the standout features as the London market bounced back from two sessions of losses with a powerful rally.

Shares in the troubled casino and bingo operator rose 10.5 per cent to 92¼p on further stake building rumours. However, this time the name in the frame was not Genting, the Malaysian gaming company, but Guoco Group, a $4bn (£1.9bn) investment company quoted in Hong Kong.