The FTSE 100 Index circled around the 6000 barrier today as investors took courage from another strong session in New York.

The FTSE 100 Index circled around the 6000 barrier today as investors took courage from another strong session in New York.

The London market was on the front foot today after market heavyweights BP and Royal Dutch Shell improved on the back of resurgent oil prices.

The London market slumped into the red today weighed down by fears of an economic slowdown across the Atlantic.

The world’s biggest supplier of pallets increased underlying profits by 29% today as it prepared for the £595m (€878m) sale of a major UK business.

Bid interest in British Gas owner Centrica reared up again today as investors took a punt on the possibility of a takeover move from Russia’s Gazprom.

The FTSE 100 Index moved back above the 5800 barrier today as investors welcomed the latest round of news from the United States over interest rates.

A strong performance from oil stocks and a flurry of takeover activity buoyed the London market today which finished a steady week in the black.

LOOKS like things are ‘coming up roses’ for the Brambles, an eight-bedroom guest house a couple of miles from Midleton in East Cork, at Ballyrichard, off the busy N25 Cork and Rosslare road.

Catering giant Compass led the FTSE 100 Index tentatively forward today after the London market shrugged off early losses by banking and oil stocks.

The FTSE 100 Index was on the brink of positive territory this morning after a tough start to trading marked by losses for oil and banking stocks.

Bid speculation surrounding British Gas owner Centrica failed to prevent the London market from continuing on its downward path today.

The London market’s seven-day winning streak came to an end today following a poor start to the session on Wall Street.

London’s FTSE 100 Index finished a lacklustre trading session with an unusual flourish today – unchanged at the same point it started the day.

London’s leading shares regained some of their earlier momentum today as market watchers predicted an upbeat return to trading on Wall Street.

The FTSE 100 Index appeared set to disappoint hopes of another strong session on Tuesday as it surrendered early gains.

Heavyweight oil and financial stocks pushed forward today to help the FTSE 100 Index end an eight-day losing streak.

The FTSE 100 Index closed down 79.6 points at 3933.9 as banks suffered a torrid start to the week.

London shares eased today despite hopes of modest gains on Wall Street later this afternoon.

Share prices closed little changed after rangebound trade with gains in News Corp and Brambles mostly offset by losses in resources and some banks going ex-dividend, dealers said.

The FTSE 100 Index achieved its highest close for two months today after a rush of positive news provided investors with cause for cheer.

OIL giants BP and Shell weighed on the London market yesterday as the FTSE 100 Index failed to make any progress in another quiet session.

The FTSE 100 Index is down 15.5 points at lunchtime at 5278.1.

Strong performances by oil giants BP and Shell are helping the Footsie index of 100 leading stocks to keep its head above water in a quiet session.

The Footsie index of 100 leading stocks is off 73.8 points by lunchtime to stand at 5402.7, having fallen by more than 90 points in the first hour of trading.

The Footsie index of 100 leading stocks is finding the going tough as telecoms stocks again depress the London market.