FTSE closes in the black

The FTSE 100 Index maintained its positive start to the week today, despite a fresh blow to BP after ratings agency Fitch slashed its debt to near-junk status amid fears over the impact of the Gulf of Mexico spill.

The oil giant tumbled another 4% or 13.45p to 342p as BP also faced demands for it to set aside $20bn (€16bn) in a special account to pay for damages and clean-up costs as a result of the Gulf of Mexico disaster.