Asian stock markets enjoyed their best year since 2003 as the region, particularly China, led the global economic recovery
Dec 31
The FTSE 100 re-took the 5,400 mark at the start of the last, shortened session of 2009, re-establishing the winter rally which allowed the index to return to levels last seen before the collapse of Lehman Brothers
Dec 31
The dollar fell broadly on Thursday as trade was extremely light, with Tokyo and several European countries on holiday ahead of the new year
