The London market held in positive territory today as takeover talk added to higher oil and metal prices in giving blue chips a fillip.

Insurer Prudential agreed to part company with banking group Egg for £575m (€871m) today – just a year after it took complete control of the business.

The value of internet gambling shares plummeted today as the sector’s worst fears about legislation in the United States came true.

Mining giant Anglo American led the London market higher today after promising to return $1bn (€829m) to investors next year.

Takeover talk swirling around internet bank Egg helped the FTSE 100 Index hit a fresh three-year high today.

The FTSE 100 Index racked up its fifth consecutive session of gains today to close at its highest level since mid-April.

Banks and betting firms dragged the London market into the red today as traders failed to warm to the latest batch of corporate news.

The London market was deep in negative territory today as investors reacted poorly to the latest round of corporate results.

The FTSE 100 Index soared to a 29-month high today as fresh hopes that interest rates will stay on hold for the rest of the year and lower oil prices cheered investors.

Supermarket chain Morrisons dragged the FTSE 100 Index into positive territory during a rollercoaster session for blue-chip stocks today.

THE London market closed on a tentatively upbeat note today despite the best efforts of blue-chip stocks Invensys, Corus and Cable & Wireless.

The FTSE 100 Index was heading for fresh lows today as retail and financial stocks fell heavily during a gloomy session.

The FTSE 100 Index is down 2.7 at 4849 at mid-morning.

London share prices are down as falls in banking and telecoms stocks weigh on the market.