Footsie making up for earlier losses

The Footsie index of 100 blue-chip stocks has recovered from an earlier 30-point fall to stand 0.4 points ahead of its opening price at 5796.5 by lunchtime.

Fallers include telecoms equipment group Spirent, off 7% or 19¾p at 248p; Marconi, down 12½p at 341p; and Energis, slipping 5¾p to 260½p.