Lloyds Banking Group missed out on a rally for the wider London market today after the part-nationalised bank posted a £6.3bn (€7.05bn) annual loss.

Lloyds Banking Group bucked an improved trend for the London market today after the part-nationalised bank posted a £6.3bn (€7bn) annual loss.

The FTSE 100 Index broke a four-day losing streak today after US bank Wells Fargo gave the sector a surprise lift with forecast-beating results.

Shares in Barclays rallied 6% today amid speculation that it is on the brink of announcing the £3bn (€3.31bn) sale of its iShares arm.

Friends Provident today acquired independent financial adviser (IFA) network Sesame as part of a roll-out of its UK financial intermediary interests.

An about-turn for oil prices caused the FTSE 100 Index to give up impressive gains from earlier in the session today.

Firmer commodity prices put BP and a number of mining stocks back on an upward path today.

Internet gambling stocks dragged the London market into the red today in the wake of anti-gaming legislation passed in the US.

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

Strong gains for mining, oil and banking stocks powered the FTSE 100 Index back above the 6000 barrier today.

Mining companies led the FTSE 100 Index back above the 6000 mark as investors cheered strong annual results from the copper specialist Kazakhmys today.

A flurry of takeover activity boosted optimism in London today as the FTSE 100 Index soared to levels not seen for more than four years.

Upgrades for top flight stocks and bid excitement over ports and ferries firm P&O helped the FTSE 100 Index rise further above the 5700 mark today.

A bid battle for ports and ferries firm P&O and broker upgrades for a string of top-flight stocks enabled the London market to bed in above the 5700 threshold today.

Medical devices firm Smith & Nephew led an exodus from the London market today after warning of slower sales growth.

The onset of the Christmas holidays will keep corporate news to a minimum in London this week, although investors will be still looking for Aberdeen Asset Management and package holiday firm MyTravel to complete outstanding business.

Technology stocks were under pressure today after software group Misys said conditions remained challenging in its key banking and finance markets.

The FTSE 100 Index held its nerve today despite seeing Asian markets tumble overnight.

The FTSE 100 index notched up a new 14-month high today as markets rose on hopes of a strong third quarter earnings season.

London's top flight shares have continued their march towards a new one-year closing high.

UK investors should get useful mid-year reports from a clutch of blue-chip companies this week as activity in the London markets rises again after a quiet month.

The FTSE 100 Index was struggling to avoid its ninth successive fall today as banking stocks continued to suffer.

The London market continued to bounce back today, jumping towards the 4,300 level after sentiment was helped by a positive close on Wall Street last night.

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

Irish company Eontec has announced the opening of a new office in Tokyo, Japan, that will serve as the foundation for the company's expansion across Asia Pacific.

Marconi and Carlton are among companies facing relegation from the FTSE 100 index.

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

The Footsie index of 100 leading blue-chip stocks is off 7.1 points after an hour's trading to stand at 5410.5.

The Footsie index of 100 leading stocks has fallen by 12.1 points in subdued trading to stand at 5459.8 by lunchtime

Telecom stocks have bounced back helping the FTSE 100 Index enjoy a small rise in early trading.

The London market has ended the day with its head above water thanks to rises in tech and telecom stocks.

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.

The Footsie index of 100 leading stocks has surged back through the 5,500 barrier as tech and telecoms shares rise following overnight gains on the US Nasdaq.

The Footsie index of 100 leading blue-chip stocks is off 28.9 points following an hour's trading in London to stand at 5633.

The FTSE-100 Index has recovered from a sluggish start to move up 27.0 points to 5692.7.

A small recovery in technology share prices hasn't helped the FTSE-100 Index, which is off 17.9 points at 5681.7.

Poor news from overseas technology companies has hit the FTSE-100 Index, which has lost 47.8 points.

Falls in the technology and telecoms sectors have taken their toll on the FTSE-100 index, now down 54.5 points.

London shares have plunged more than 90 points as traders have taken their lead from a poor opening on the US markets.

The Footsie index of 100 leading blue-chip shares is up 41.8 points at lunchtime to stand at 5851.4, with new economy stocks leading the way.

The Footsie index of 100 leading stocks is up 34.5 points by mid-morning to stand at 5844.1, recovering some of last week's losses.

The Footsie index of 100 blue-chip stocks has recovered from an earlier 30-point fall to stand 0.4 points ahead of its opening price at 5796.5 by lunchtime.