By David Brett

LONDON (Reuters) - A broad-based rally in the stock market saw Britain's top share index recording gains for a sixth straight day, with banks leading the surge and commodity shares jumping on stronger crude oil and metal prices.

The FTSE 100 index ended 54.87 points, or 1.3 percent, higher at 4,443.62 -- the highest close since June 11. Friday, it posted its best weekly rise since early January.

"Oils and (other) commodities gained yet again as risk appetite returned to the market, dragging the U.S. dollar lower," said Jimmy Yates, head of equities at CMC Markets.

"The expected profit-taking in the U.S. hasn't quite materialised ... leaving many asking the question of how high this more recent rally can go," he added.

Banks roared ahead after U.S. lender CIT Group's tentative deal with bondholders, improving sentiment. HSBC, Standard Chartered and Royal Bank of Scotland rose 1.6 to 3.6 percent.

Lloyds Banking Group jumped 6.7 percent, also supported by a Sunday Times report saying it would post a first-half profit.

Insurers got a boost from Morgan Stanley, which raised its rating on the European insurance sector to "2 percent overweight" from "neutral"

Aviva, Legal & General, Old Mutual and Prudential put on between 2.9 and 7.6 percent.