FTSE 100 hits best level since 2008 Heavily-weighted financial and mining stocks helped drive the FTSE 100 to its best closing level since 2008 in late trade on Wednesday. Banks remained energised after Monday's news that liquidity requirements coming from global regulators will be brought in later than expected and less onerous than had been thought. Lloyds Banking Group, the best performer of 2012 on the London index, rose a further 5.3 per cent to 53½p, topping London's benchmark index. Royal Bank of Scotland rose 4 per cent to 350.4p. Barclays was 2.7 per cent higher at 295p. Overall, the FTSE 100 was 45 points stronger at 6,098.65, a gain of 0.7 per cent. Evraz, the Russian steelmaker rose 2.9 per cent to 279.7p. Glencore, the commodities trader, was the best basic resources stock, up 2.4 per cent at 385.8p, tracking stronger metals prices and hopes for growth across global markets. Angus Campbell, head of market analysis at Capital Spreads, said: "It was risk on from investors who have become increasingly optimistic in 2013 that the global economy is on the mend following a good start to the US corporate earnings season from aluminium producer Alcoa, who provided an encouraging piece of forward guidance that has been enough for investors to buy further into the mining stocks listed in London" J Sainsbury's stock lost 2.9 per cent to 329.2p in late trade after its like-for-like sales for the period met forecasts, but slipped back from the growth rates seen over the first half. The fall was the biggest on the FTSE 100. Ahead of its trading update due on Wednesday, Tesco slipped 0.7 per cent to 349.1p. Wm Morrison, which issued a weak update earlier in the week but stopped short of a profit warning, was 0.5 per cent softer at 252p. That left food retailers as the biggest drag at sector level on the FTSE 100.