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

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

The London market saw its recent gains trimmed today by a poor response to results from elite stocks such as media giant Reuters and British Gas owner Centrica.

Barclays led the FTSE 100 Index back towards the 4600 barrier today as investors warmed to news that it was seeking to expand in Africa.

London’s leading shares came off the boil today, with the benchmark FTSE 100 Index wiping out all of yesterday’s gains.

Companies reporting in Britain in the week beginning February 24 include:

The London market had a robust end to the week today, after being boosted by a strong opening on Wall Street.

Struggling European telecoms group Colt Telecom is axing another 800 jobs across Europe in an effort to fight the economic downturn, it said today.

Technology companies in the UK face further problems today, after another wave of stocks are relegated in the FTSE’s quarterly reshuffle.

Colt Telecom beat analysts expectations in its first quarter results.

The FTSE 100 Index is ahead just 5.3 points at 5258.6 at lunchtime.

Colt Telecom announced its intention to mothball its internet data centre on the Longmile Road in keeping with its increased focus on cost efficiency with a view to reaching profitability by 2004.

London traders have taken their lead from developments overseas as the FTSE 100 Index closed higher for a second successive session.

The FTSE 100 Index is building on yesterday's much-needed gains, rising by 38.6 to 5139.3 at mid-morning.

Speculation is mounting private equity firm Apax Partners is on the verge of making a bid for struggling telecoms group Energis.

The Footsie has closed down 22.5 points at 5050.8 as telecom stocks took a battering.

The FTSE 100 Index is nearing a four-month low at mid-morning, falling 46.8 points to 5026.5.

The FTSE 100 Index is being pushed down towards the key 5,000 mark again, falling 36.6 points to 5036.7 after an hour's trading.

The FTSE 100 Index appears to have shaken off yesterday's woes, gaining 41.4 points to reach 5130.7 after an hour's trading.

The FTSE 100 Index closed down 42.1 points at 5089.3.

The FTSE 100 index has fallen 60 points to 5071.4 by lunchtime.

The Footsie index of 100 leading stocks is up 45.2 points at mid-morning to stand at 5077.9, having pulled back from an earlier 35-point fall.

Colt Telecom is launching a share issue to raise £400m and hand a majority stake to its largest investor.

London shares have lost nearly all of their early gains following the cut in US interest rates.

Investors were given an early boost today as the FTSE 100 Index of blue-chip stocks reversed almost all of the losses recorded on Friday.

London shares have tumbled dramatically in early trading as more heavy losses in the US overnight added to the fear in the City.

Billions of pounds have been wiped off share values as the FTSE 100 Index continues to nosedive.

London shares are continuing to slide further towards the crucial 5,000 mark.

Few shares in the FTSE 100 Index have made any headway as the index tumbles towards its lowest close for nearly three years.

The London market is in positive territory as tech and telecom stocks enjoy a rare bout of buoyant trading.

The Footsie index of 100 leading stock has fallen 33.9 points to stand at 5400.8 at mid-morning as poor sentiment from the US hits trading on the London market.

Early gains on the Footsie 100 index have evaporated by mid-morning, leaving it down 19.4 points at 5389.3.

Blue-chip stocks were on the rise at lunchtime after overcoming a rocky start to the session.

A rise in tech shares helped the London market start the week on the front foot today, shrugging off losses on the US markets on Friday night.

The Footsie index of 100 leading stocks is off 38.8 points at 5422.8 at mid-morning as tech and telecoms shares suffer more heavy losses.

The London market has got off to a gloomy start, with tech and telecoms stocks leading the fall.

Blue-chip stocks have continued their unpredictable streak as weakness in the tech and telecom sector sent the London market lower.

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.

London shares have ended the week on a high note despite bad news from overseas.

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 FTSE-100 Index has closed up after some rare good news from the US helped lift the London market.

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

New figures show that top chief executives saw their pay packets grow by an inflation-busting 17% last year.

The Footsie index of 100 leading stocks is up 20.6 points after an hour's trading to stand at 5576.2, recovering marginally from yesterday's woes.