Greece’s parliament late last night approved an austerity and debt-relief bill, crucial for the country to avoid bankruptcy and remain in the eurozone.

A lack of progress in talks between Greece and its creditors unsettled investors today as London's leading shares index failed to build on last week's gains.

Crucial austerity talks between Greece’s coalition party leaders are due to be pushed back for a day despite strong pressure from the European Union for a speedy agreement.

The ISEQ index edged back above 3,000 points yesterday, up 18.07 points at 3,007.79. Markets were lifted by the approval of a new eurozone budget discipline pact, which will be signed in March.

Rising borrowing rates for many of the eurozone’s more indebted countries sent investors scurrying out of stock markets today, on a day that Italy’s prime minister-designate was looking to get the support of the country’s political parties for a technocratic government.