FTSE gains on hopes crisis may be easing

* FTSE 100 gains 1.4 percent

* Miners, energy stocks lifted by higher commodity prices

* Confidence on financial markets boosted by govt measures

(For financial crisis coverage, please click on [nCRISIS])

By Simon Falush

LONDON, Oct 17 (Reuters) - The UK's leading index of shares gained 1.4 percent early on Monday as confidence grew that the financial crisis may be easing, boosting commodity prices and energy and mining stocks.

By 0740 GMT the FTSE 100 .FTSE was up 58.42 points at 4,121.43 having gained 5.2 percent on Friday.

Governments around the world have pledged about $3.2 trillion to guarantee bank deposits and interbank lending and Dutch bank ING (ING.AS) became the latest to need government support, with Dutch authorities pumping in 10 billion euros ($13.5 billion).

Markets were also soothed somewhat by a pledge from European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet on Sunday to do what it takes to restore confidence.

Mining stocks were firmer, recovering from recent heavy losses as metals prices bounced back from multi-year lows set last week as fears eased about the extent of the fall-off in demand.

Xstrata (XTA.L), Lonmin (LMI.L) and Anglo American (AAL.L) gained between 1.7 and 4.7 percent.

ULTIMATE BENEFIT

"Ultimately stock markets are going to benefit from the measures being announced from the central banks and the government which are now acting to shore up the global economy," said Neil Parker, market strategist at Royal Bank of Scotland."

Energy stocks rose as oil rose over $2 per barrel CLc1 on expectations that OPEC could cut output this week to lift prices which have plunged more than 50 percent from a record high in just three months.