FTSE well below opening mark

Falling commodity prices left the FTSE 100 Index well below its opening mark today.

Even a buoyant session on Wall Street - amid relief over inflation prospects - failed to lift the Footsie, which reached mid-morning 30.8 points lower at 6224.1.

Miners and energy stocks dominated the fallers board following an overnight fall in oil and copper prices.

With the price of a barrel of oil at 56 US dollars a barrel, shares in BP were down 10.5p to 587.5p, while Royal Dutch Shell dipped 23p to 1905p.

Among the miners, Xstrata eased 88p to 2175p, BHP Billiton fell 30p to 966p and Kazakhmys dipped 34p to 1148p.

British Energy shares were also under pressure as the nuclear power operator warned it continued to face output difficulties.

While rising power prices helped half-year profits, the uncertainty over the performance of plants at Hunterston and Hinkley Point meant the stock fell by as much 5% before settling 2% lower, down 7.5p at 461p.

Cadbury Schweppes led the risers board, up 10.5p to 542.5p, as vague buy-out talk circled the sweets and drinks stock.

Broadcaster ITV also made progress for a while after a newspaper report said RTL was considering a takeover approach, alongside the interest already stated by cable operator NTL. Shares eased to stand 0.25p higher at 115p.

Elsewhere, Tesco and Sainsbury's were the favoured supermarket stocks of the session, rising 4.5p and 2.75p to 414.5p and 400p respectively, whilst rival Morrisons dipped 3.5p to 258.5p.

Dixons and Currys owner DSG International rose 1.75p to 219.5p, ahead of a trading update from the company next week.

In the second tier, Northern Foods continued to rise following more upbeat broker notes in the wake of results earlier in the week. The stock was up 5%, or 5.25p to 106p, building on a gain of 9% yesterday.