Uncertainty over the progress of Ireland's debt rescue and China's efforts to control inflation combined to unsettle world markets today.

London’s benchmark FTSE 100 Index held on to gains today to break a four-day losing streak.

The FTSE 100 Index crept into positive territory today during another choppy session dominated by worries over the scale of Europe’s debt crisis.

The end of lengthy searches for top bosses at blue chips ITV and Marks & Spencer provided the focus in an otherwise quiet session for the FTSE 100 Index today.

The London market sunk into the red today as Lloyds Banking Group suffered further misery in the wake of its shock HBOS profits warning.

The FTSE 100 Index finished the session just 1% lower today after a bail-out of the US car industry helped Wall Street markets open on the front foot.

More than £50 billion was wiped off the value of blue chip stocks today as news of Lehman Brothers’ dramatic demise spread havoc throughout world stock markets.

The London market plunged 1.8% into the red today as fears over potential interest rate rises spooked investors on both sides of the Atlantic.

Heavy profit taking in the mining sector, combined with weaker oil stocks, saw the London market end the week deep in the red today.

Eircom has today announced a major call centre contract with The Capita Group Plc, one of the UK’s leading providers of business support services.

The London market slumped in afternoon trading today after a poor opening on Wall Street knocked investor sentiment.

Disappointing sales figures from the UK's largest supermarket chain weighed heavy on the London market today leaving a raft of blue chip retailers in the red.

The London market experienced a slight rally in afternoon trading today as the FTSE 100 Index clawed back some of the session’s earlier losses.

FT publisher Pearson today slid from last week's four-and-a-half-year shares high, despite confirming the business was in line for record profits for the year.

Outsourcing group Capita added more than £250 million to its market value today after strong half-year results lifted its share price by 9%.

Confidence in gaming shares was rocked today by charges laid against the operator BetonSports and its chief executive David Carruthers.

The FTSE 100 Index sank into the red today as Morrisons disappointed investors and the head of Capita Group quit because of publicity surrounding his decision to loan money to the Labour Party.

Lloyds TSB and advertising giant WPP set a blistering pace today during a strong end to the week for London’s leading shares.

Media giant Reuters and defence firm BAE Systems were the chief culprits behind a heavy fall by the FTSE 100 Index today.

Investors pulled their money out of the London market today after taking fright at a sharp sell-off in Japan and weak results from US technology giants.

The London market’s strong start to the year stalled today as a lack of corporate data left it without direction.

Buyers padding out their portfolios with media and defence stocks today ensured the London market made strides during the first trading week of the new year.

The firm behind London’s congestion charge scheme led the FTSE 100 Index to another four-year high today.

Disappointing results by British Land today meant the London market was unable to build on a recent rally that has driven it to four-high highs.

A surge in the value of oil and mining stocks helped propel the FTSE 100 Index back above the key 5200 barrier today.

Disappointing news from the retail sector dragged the market lower today as it gave up gains made earlier in the week.

A bid approach for Exel and positive results from drinks giant Diageo helped the FTSE 100 Index post strong gains for a third session in a row today.

London shares overcame a significant strengthening by the pound today to end the week on a high note.

A healthy start to the session on Wall Street helped to keep the London market in the black today.

The London market followed the lead of Wall Street today as investors went in search of cheap looking stocks.

London shares wrapped up a fifth consecutive session of gains today as the festive fervour showed no signs of slackening.

Falling oil prices and some respite for the weakening US dollar helped prop up the London market today.

Top flight shares ended the day heavily in the red despite a better-than-expected start to trading in New York.

The FTSE 100 Index weakened towards the end of the session today as poorer-than-expected job figures in the United States cast a cloud over markets.

The London market failed to hold on to its recent winning streak today as traders fretted over heavy losses across the Atlantic.

Speculation about a takeover battle for Sainsbury’s helped keep top flight shares above the key 4500 support level today.

The FTSE 100 Index gave up another 40 points today after a clutch of stocks went ex-dividend and an update from a US tech giant knocked confidence.

Tobacco stocks provided the spark for the FTSE Index 100 Index to press back towards the 4500 barrier today.

Chancellor Gordon Brown’s long-awaited statement on euro entry drew little response from City investors today.

London’s benchmark FTSE 100 Index snatched back all of yesterday’s losses and made strides further into positive territory today following a deluge of company results.

Investors found little cause for optimism today as the FTSE 100 Index shed much of the previous session’s 90 point rally.

LONDON’S blue chip shares plunged back into negative territory yesterday, as the market suffered a delayed reaction to the Bank of England’s decision to slash rates.

Investors are largely unmoved by the decision to cut interest rates by 0.25% to 3.75% - the FTSE 100 Index is down 41.7 points at 3637, where it has spent most of the day.

The FTSE 100 Index has fallen 43.7 points to 3635.0 as fears over a looming conflict in Iraq continue.