Rising oil prices helped the London market swing into positive territory today, with oil major BP leading the advance.

Crisis-hit Northern Rock’s roller-coaster ride on the markets continued today as the mortgage lender’s shares gained 6%.

Housebuilder Barratt Developments said today it was seeing “good momentum” on sales despite recent hikes in interest rates.

Housebuilder Barratt Developments was today earmarked to join the FTSE 100 Index for the first time in its history.