Bull run on Bitcoin sees cryptocurrency charge past $19,000, nearing record high

The regulator raised concerns about the inherent difficulty in reliably valuing the underlying asset, as well as the extreme volatility in crypto asset price movements and lack of understanding of the products by ordinary retail investors.

Meanwhile, the FTSE 100 index surrendered 16.9 points to 6348.2, but the FTSE 250 index crept 32.66 points higher to 19,548.83.

The second tier was boosted by a 25% surge for Micro Focus International after the software company, which helps clients to bridge existing and emerging technologies, said it was improving margins at a faster than expected rate.

Micro Focus is nine months into a three-year turnaround plan, with CEO Stephen Murdoch stating that he is pleased with progress so far. While shares were up 70.5p to 342.2p, the former FTSE 100 company had been above 1,000p at the start of this year.

Elsewhere in the FTSE 250, Aston Martin Lagonda rose sharply for a second successive session, adding a further 7.6p to 83.5p. Virgin Money and TBC Bank were also up 6.45p to 148.15p and 92p to 1,330p respectively after takeover interest in the banking operations of Sainsbury's and the Co-op fuelled hopes of consolidation in the sector.