FTSE regains lost ground to snap three-day sell-off

Better-than-expected data from China and the Eurozone helped the FTSE 100 rebound from a three-day sell-off that saw the index hit a six-week low earlier this week.

Chinese PMI rose from 47.7 to 50.1 in August, well ahead of the 48.2 consensus forecast, while Eurozone PMI rose 50.5 to 51.7, above the 50.9 consensus. The improving economic data lifted shares across a variety of sectors in London, with the index up 53 points to 6,444 shortly after midday, a rise of 0.85%. RSA Insurance Group was one of the biggest risers, up 3% to 123.6p. Aberdeen also regained ground after a torrid period that saw it lose 25% in the last three months. Shares rose 2.5% to 365p. In Europe, shares followed suit, with the French Cac up 1% to 4,058, and the Germa...