Strong gains in the mining sector helped the London market regain its poise today after yesterday’s heavy losses.

London’s FTSE 100 Index was on the front foot today as traders dusted themselves down after yesterday’s heavy fall.

Waste collection and recycling firm Biffa agreed to be taken over today in a private equity deal valuing the company at more than £1.2bn (€1.61).

The FTSE 100 Index endured a sluggish session today after downgrades for leading blue-chips including banking giant Barclays.

Shares in Barclays fell by more than 1% today after Goldman Sachs warned earnings estimates for the bank were too high in the current climate.

The FTSE 100 Index lost more than 1% today despite the emergence of a potential saviour for troubled mortgage lender Northern Rock.

Beleaguered mortgage lender Northern Rock’s shares soared nearly 30% on the FTSE today after a Virgin-led team was unveiled as the preferred choice to rescue the firm.

Investors went in search of cheap-looking stocks today as the London market regained some confidence at the end of a turbulent week.

The FTSE 100 Index rallied today to recover earlier losses sparked off by selling in US bond markets and fears of higher interest rates.

Shares in British waste management group Biffa slumped today after the company warned it expected to see growth slow at its landfill division in the year ahead.

Several high-profile stocks were on the front foot today buoyed by bid speculation and a series of positive broker upgrades.

Takeover talk lifted several London stocks today although the bid rumours sweeping the market failed to lift the Footsie into positive territory.

The FTSE 100 Index edged towards 6100 today as traders were left unmoved by Gordon Brown’s tenth Pre-Budget Report.

London’s leading shares shrugged off fears over North Korea’s nuclear test today as rising oil prices and pharmaceutical firms took centre stage.

London bucked the downward trend for world markets today as investors in the UK reacted calmly to the news of a nuclear test in North Korea.

Plans by water supplier Severn Trent to spin off its Biffa waste management business kept the FTSE 100 Index above the 6000 mark today.

Water company Severn Trent starred today as the London market’s top riser after revealing plans to demerge its Biffa waste management business.