Stock prices in London rallied into the close after a report that peace talks could resume between the US and Iran. For the week, the FTSE 100 rose 1.3%, the FTSE 250 climbed 0.8%, and the AIM all-share advanced 1.6%. In London, investors were cheered by stronger-than-forecast retail sales figures, a pick-up in private sector activity and an improvement in consumer confidence. UK retail sales volumes surged 4.2% year-on-year in June, picking up speed from 3.5% in May. The June figure topped the FXStreet-cited consensus, which had pencilled in a slowdown in annual retail sales growth to 2.3%.