FTSE races to record highs as CRH climbs

By Sudip Kar-Gupta LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's top share index hit record highs on Friday, moving above 7,000 points for the first time in its history. The blue-chip FTSE 100 index rose 0.8 percent to 7,017.42 points going into the close of the trading session, led by cement firm CRH , which surged on expectations of lucrative European asset purchases. Retail investors often use the fact that a stock market has risen above such key levels as a sign that a bull market has momentum. European