The 7,000 barrier could be broken

More than 400 brokers, research professionals and financial analysts were asked to vote on where the blue-chip index would settle a year from now.

Thirty-six percent saw the index surpassing its 1999 record close of 6,930.20 next year, while 37 per cent forecast it would sit somewhere between 6,500 and 7,000 points.

Just 7 per cent saw the index slipping below the 6,000 mark, a level last seen in December.

Last year, only 13 percent of those polled said the index would rise above 6,000 by the time of this year’s awards. The index closed at 6,400.45 points yesterday.

UK stocks surged along with other European equity markets between April and May, boosted by massive liquidity injections from central banks, including the US Federal Reserve’s buying of $85bn (£54.6bn) per month in Treasuries and mortgage-backed securities to try and boost economic growth.

The rally stalled late last month, however, after a batch of robust data sparked speculation the Fed could soon start to trim its quantitative easing programme.

The investment professionals were also asked to forecast US economic growth over the next year.

Almost 60 per cent of voters predicted US gross domestic product would increase 2 to 3 per cent a year from now and 26 per cent thought it would climb by 3 to 4 per cent. Only 3 per cent saw it growing 4 per cent.