Investors piled back into London shares today amid relief at a rebound by Japan’s stock exchange.

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.

Retailers and insurers helped the FTSE 100 Index break through the 5700 landmark barrier today for the first time since July 2001.

Stocks in the United States meandered through a listless session today, ending lower as investors ignored generally benign economic data and looked ahead to 2006 with a mix of optimism and concern.

A pre-Christmas boost for retailers helped power an upbeat performance by the FTSE 100 Index today.

US stocks finished mixed today as interest rate worries and a legal setback for Merck & Co countered momentum from a possible multi-billion-dollar acquisition by ConocoPhillips.

Higher metal prices boosted mining stocks today as the London market ended the week on a positive note.

Stronger mining stocks and a better-than-expected update from Alliance & Leicester gave the FTSE 100 Index reason to break the 5500 barrier today.

Oil giant BP anchored the London market in the red today after investors lost the right to the most recent dividend payout.

The London market began the trading week confidently today even though the exodus of investors from PartyGaming showed no sign of slowing down.

PartyGaming was out of synch with a buoyant London market today as the value of the poker giant dipped below £3bn (€4.3bn) for the first time.

Cable & Wireless topped off a torrid week on the London market with news that trading in the UK had deteriorated.

The FTSE 100 Index suffered its heaviest daily fall since the July terrorist attacks today as investors fretted over losses in New York.

Weaker retail stocks and a slide for oil company BP prevented the FTSE 100 Index from rounding off a strong week in positive territory today.

Brewing giant SABMiller was the toast of the London market today as the FTSE 100 Index chased a positive end to the trading week.

THE Bank of England faced calls for further interest rate cuts last night after a key survey showed the British high street suffered its worst July in a decade.

After closing at a record $63.94 yesterday, the cost of a barrel of US light crude rose even higher to touch $64.27 in overnight trading.

Publishing group Emap paced London’s leading shares to another positive close today as a trading update cheered investors.

DIY firm Kingfisher led the FTSE 100 Index higher today as renewed bid speculation caused investors to pile into its shares.

Marks & Spencer said today that its grip on the UK clothing market was still weakening after sales declined for the seventh quarter in a row.

Ramco has announced the appointment of Malcolm Hay as a non-executive director.

The top flight finished today comfortably in the black, but failed to make up much of the week’s losses.

The FTSE 100 Index looked set for a positive end to the week today as London built on last night’s gains in the United States.

Accountancy software group Sage today brushed aside fears that customers were reducing budgets for new technology by signalling a 16% hike in half-year profits.

The London market overcame jitters in the retail sector and downbeat trading on Wall Street to make a positive start to the week today.

Mining stocks were the talk of the London market today as the FTSE 100 Index languished in negative territory.

Top flight shares in the UK extended their gains today after broker upgrades and a rising copper price buoyed miners.

Investors welcomed a lower-than-expected drop in wholesale prices and sent stocks higher today, ending a troubled week on Wall Street on a positive note.

Wall Street had a mild rebound after three losing sessions today, with investors sending stocks mostly higher despite a sharp rise in unemployment claims and mixed holiday retail sales.

UK industry breathed a sigh of relief today after oil prices recorded their heaviest fall in a single session since 2001.

A DRAWN-OUT battle for control of Warner Chilcott looked less likely yesterday as one of the three bidders for the Northern drug firm dropped out of the race to join forces with the frontrunner.

The ISEQ index surged today, following the trend of markets across Europe buoyed by the relief with the end of the US presidential race.

Elan shares broke through the €21 mark today, after a rise of 19 cent took them to €21.14.

The private equity arms of Credit Suisse First Boston and JP Morgan have agreed for Bain Capital and Thomas H Lee to join the Waren Acquisition consortium in their bid to buy pharmaceutical company Warner Chilcott for £1.62bn (€2.34bn).

The battle for Warner Chilcott moved to the next round today when the drugs group confirmed an approach that could value it at more than £1.5bn (€2.15bn).

The race for drugs group Warner Chilcott (formerly Galen) will hot up this week when two rival consortia table bids of more than £1.5bn (€2.2bn), it was reported today.

Supermarket group Morrisons today cheered the London financial sector with news that converted Safeway stores were reaping the benefits of their change to the Morrisons format.

INTEL’S chief executive Craig Barrett hailed a new $2 billion factory in Leixlip, Co Kildare, as one of the best of its kind anywhere in the world when he opened the plant in June.

US stocks rebounded today, with the Dow Jones industrial average rising solidly above 10,000 as investors, less anxious about volatile energy prices, focused instead on good corporate news.

The Irish Association of Pension Funds (IAPF) will host the fourth annual UK & Irish Pensions & Investing Summit in Dublin’s Four Seasons Hotel on October 18 and 19.

Shares in AstraZeneca tumbled 6% today after a key drug it has developed in the fight against strokes was provisionally rejected by US regulators.

Internet search engine Google's share auction is to start today at 2pm Irish time. The company will make its Nasdaq stock exchange debut next week.

BUDGET airline easyJet lost over a fifth of its market value yesterday as it joined rival Ryanair in giving bleak comments on rising fuel costs and a price war.