Marks & Spencer is expected to report a second straight fall in annual profit next week, and with the retailer’s shares down nearly a quarter over the last year it is in danger of soon being booted out of the Ftse-100 index.

London's top-flight index has joined global markets by crashing into the red over fears that rising inflation could force central banks to hike interest rates.

The FTSE 100 nearly flat-lined on today but managed to eke out a fresh record high in the UK's last full trading day of 2017.

The head of a British parliamentary committee has asked a regulator to look into media reports, including one by Reuters, about movements in financial markets ahead of economic data releases that raised the possibility of leaks.

Christmas spending at UK supermarkets and weak sterling helped boost London’s Ftse 100 blue-chip index, which hit fresh record highs yesterday, as other European shares also ended slightly in positive territory.

US stocks surged on Monday after a Federal Reserve official said the central bank should not raise interest rates too soon, which came as a big relief to investors.

The UK’s premier index briefly reached a 13-month high thanks to surging oil prices and a strong rally from blue-chip banking stocks.

London’s top flight index tumbled below 6,700 yesterday as investors baulked at a bleak economic update from the UK manufacturing industry.

London’s top-flight index rallied towards the closing bell as it was confirmed that Theresa May would be in post as prime minister by tomorrow after rival candidate Andrea Leadsom dropped out of the race.

London’s top-flight index sunk deeper into the red as it came under pressure from sliding commodity stocks and a slump from the supermarkets.

London's top flight index was languishing in the red as weak economic data from China and a profits plunge at HSBC helped drive the market lower.

London’s top-flight index was dragged into the red yesterday as a lacklustre performance from commodity stocks weighed heavy on the market.

The Ftse struggled to make headway yesterday as the falling price of crude dragged on stocks after a key meeting of oil producers ended in stalemate.

The London market rebounded this morning from sharp falls yesterday that left it at three-and-a-half year lows.

London’s blue chip share index has powered higher as the first US interest rate hike for nearly a decade sent global equities surging.

London’s Ftse 100 collapsed below the 6000 mark yesterday as volatility hit markets across Europe again after a concerted sell-off among miners.

The Ftse 100 slumped to its lowest level in almost three years yesterday, with all individual stocks in the red and miners leading the slide on growing fears of a China-led global economic slowdown.

The FTSE 100 Index equalled its worst one-day fall since the financial crisis today as it plunged by nearly 5%.

Britain’s top equity index edged lower yesterday, with a decline for commodities stocks such as BP and Royal Dutch Shell overshadowing gains in travel group TUI.

The FTSE-100 index at the close was up 17.73 at 6736.22.

The London market was lower as traders avoided big bets ahead of Greece’s referendum over its eurozone bailout on Sunday.

The FTSE-100 index at the close was down 14.56 at 6790.04 today.

A slew of lacklustre manufacturing data left London’s blue-chip share index lower today, putting paid to an initial rally which had sent it above the 7,000 mark in early trading.

The FTSE-100 index at the close was up 15.83 at 6949.63.

The FTSE-100 index at the close was down 16.97 at 7029.85.

London’s Ftse 100 index was 2% higher yesterday after the unexpected Conservative election victory added over £40bn to market prices.

The FTSE-100 index at the close was up 17.03 at 7070.70.

The FTSE-100 index at the close was down 34.69 at 7028.24.

UK shareholder dividends in 2015 are set to hit their highest level for three years - boosted by the recovering British economy, a report said.

Dividend cheer for the 3m shareholders of Lloyds Banking Group and other strong corporate earnings spurred the Ftse to a new record yesterday.

Blue-chip sharesin the UK began the week on the front foot today as investors shrugged off an 8% plunge in the Chinese stock market overnight.

The FTSE-100 index at the close was up 51.49 at 6550.27.

PARIS: the Cac-40 index closed up 56.3 at 4230.6.

Improved sentiment on Wall Street helped blue-chip shares shake off worries over Ukraine and wipe out early session losses.

The FTSE-100 index at the close was up 0.28 at 6796.71.

The FTSE-100 index at the close was down 15.61 at 6659.42.

The FTSE-100 index at the close was up 17.21 at 6757.15.

The FTSE-100 index at the close was down 30.44 at 6691.34.

UK fashion retailers set the pace on the London market after Next cheered investors with better-than-expected trading and a turnaround in the fortunes of its high street stores.

The FTSE 100 Index ended a nine-day winning streak that had propelled it to a five-month high as investors sought to lock in profits.

Political gridlock in Washington left European markets in the red today amid disappointment over the lack of progress in resolving America's budget crisis.

Power giants Centrica and SSE saw UK shares tumble after Labour leader Ed Miliband’s vow to freeze household energy bills spooked markets.