Investors took stock today after the FTSE 100 Index’s best month for six years amid cautious trading on the London market.

Investors showed some Christmas cheer today as the FTSE 100 Index gained more than 1%.

Reassuring news from banking giant Barclays and stronger-than-expected early trading on Wall Street helped limit falls on the London market today.

Banking and housebuilding stocks were higher today after a record close for Wall Street boosted confidence across world markets.

London’s FTSE 100 Index recorded its first positive finish in six sessions today after benefiting from a strong start to trading on Wall Street.

Rising interest rates claimed a major casualty today after car dealership Pendragon warned its profits would be hit by a consumer spending slowdown.

Strong gains from publisher Reed Elsevier and drinks giant Diageo failed to encourage the FTSE 100 Index to take further steps from the 6,400 barrier today.

British car retailer Pendragon said today it was benefiting from its £500m (€747.9m) deal for Reg Vardy after it emerged profits jumped 51% last year.

A surprise hike in interest rates failed to derail the London market after the FTSE 100 Index powered ahead by 1% in strong afternoon trading.

One of the UK’s largest car dealerships, Lookers, is planning expansion following a £200m (€294m) refinancing deal with the Bank of Ireland announced today.

ONE of Britain’s largest car dealerships, Lookers, is planning expansion following a €294 million refinancing deal with Bank of Ireland, it announced yesterday.

The London market closed in the red today after BP took a major hit following its decision to shut production at a key Alaskan oil field.

Market confidence was dealt a double blow today as investors fretted over US interest rates and the impact of BP’s decision to shut a key oil field.

More than £2.1 billion was added to the value of Prudential today after Aviva published terms of its plan to create the world’s fifth largest insurer.

The London market bounced back into life today as the FTSE 100 Index put its recent heavy losses behind it.

The FTSE 100 Index continued to fluctuate today as the London market set about putting back losses seen in its previous two sessions.

Shares in Boots jumped 4% today as investors pondered whether a private equity bidder could yet derail the retailer’s merger with Alliance UniChem.

UK car dealership Lookers today conceded defeat to bigger rival Pendragon in the £506m (€740m) battle for the Sunderland-based operator Reg Vardy.

Car dealers Lookers and Reg Vardy tonight rejected a proposed three-way merger with rival Pendragon.

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.

A £12.7bn (€18.5bn) takeover proposal from steel giant Mittal helped fuel European markets and lift the FTSE 100 Index to its best level since 2001 today.

Car dealers Pendragon today shocked the City by revealing its was interested in bidding for both Lookers and Reg Vardy to create the undisputed king of the UK car dealership sector.

Investors pulled their money out of the London market today after taking fright at a sharp sell-off in Japan and weak results from US technology giants.

The London market had the 5600 threshold firmly in its sights tonight after hopes of an early cut in interest rates ensured a fourth positive session in a row.

A SMALLER rival of car dealership Reg Vardy is said to be lining up a £480m (€713m) move to wreck an agreed takeover of the group.

A cautious opening to trading on Wall Street – rather than the Chancellor’s gloomy economic forecasts – put the brakes on the London market today.

A proposed link-up between NTL and Virgin Mobile put other broadcasters under pressure today as the FTSE 100 Index fell into the red.

Takeover activity helped lift the mood on the London market today as plasterboard maker BPB ditched its opposition to being bought by a French rival.

A negative reaction to results from retailer Sainsbury’s reflected the mood in the wider London market today.

Poor sentiment towards banks and oil companies today ended a six-day run of gains by the FTSE 100 Index.

The London market ended near its opening mark today after Wall Street opened down on renewed US rate rise fears.

Losses by media stocks and record oil prices sent the London market into the red today.

UK car dealership Pendragon posted a 71% rise in half-year profits today after benefiting from its business-transforming takeover of rival CD Bramall in March.

Early gains on the Footsie 100 index have evaporated by mid-morning, leaving it down 19.4 points at 5389.3.

Britain's largest car dealership group Pendragon says it is to provide services for MSN Carview, an independent car-buying and ownership website which will be launched in March.