Oil price hits six-month high

US light crude oil rose by $2 a barrel or 2.5 percent, to $83.45, while London Brent rose by $1.90 to $85.04 a barrel, before both slipped back slightly.

Figures showed that the US manufacturing sector accelerated faster than expected in October. Earlier, figures showed Chinese manufacturing powering ahead. China's official purchasing managers' index (PMI) rose to 54.7 in October from 53.8 in September, well above analysts' expectations. In the US, the equivalent manufacturing PMI also rose to a higher-than-expected 56.9, up from 54.4 in September. Index figures above 50 suggest expansion of the sector.