The Standard and Poor 's 500-stock index , a broad collection of equities representing leading companies , finished its best quarter yesterday since the last three months of 1998 .
The Standard & Poor 's 500 stock index ended the quarter up 120 points , a gain of 14 percent , the best performance for that broad market benchmark since 1998 .
The Telegraph can reveal that Sir John Stevens , the Metropolitan Police Commissioner , placed his force on its highest alert last week .