London’s leading shares finished a miserable week in the red today as stocks lost favour with investors.

The fragility of investor confidence was exposed today when the FTSE 100 Index lost hold of early gains of 66 points to close in negative territory.

Energy and mining stocks led the recovery in London today as the FTSE 100 Index regained some of yesterday’s heavy losses.

A major gas field expected to provide around 3% of the UK’s supplies started production off the north east coast of Scotland today.