It was a roller coaster day on London’s equities markets on Thursday as new reports of terrorist activity erased early gains and sent the FTSE down by 75.8 points, only to make up the losses once it was understood that compared to the bombings two weeks ago, these attacks had caused minimal damage and injury.

Also having an effect on the day’s trade was China’s decision to revalue the renminbi. The FTSE 100 closed the day 0.1 percent higher at 5,221.6, while the FTSE 250 was up 0.4 percent to 7,467.4.

The mining sector was higher as copper prices hit a new peak. Anglo American gained 2.6 percent to £13.73, Antofagasta was up 1.2 percent to £12.93, and Rio Tinto rose by 1.3 percent to £18.62.

BHP Billiton added 1.3 percent to 782p on the news that it has entered into a joint venture with Japan’s biggest steel producer, JFE, in a deal expected to be worth $4.3 billion.

In the power sector, Centrica, the UK’s biggest gas and electricity supplier, saw its shares rise on the news that its rival Powergen has raised rates to residential users by 12 percent for gas and 7 percent for electricity. Shares in Centrica gained 2.6 percent to 230 ¾p.