Stock markets across Europe and Asia rallied on Friday to stem some of December’s heavy losses, with London’s FTSE 100 recording its best day for rising share prices since April.

The index of the UK’s most valuable companies closed up 2.3%. BP and Shell were the biggest risers, up 3.5% and 2.3% respectively as oil prices rebounded. Shares in exporters also climbed, led by British American Tobacco, which rose 3.6%.