Retailers were in focus today as the FTSE 100 Index shrugged off yesterday’s losses to hover below the key 4600 barrier.

The London market failed to hold on to early gains today as further record oil prices hampered its progress.

An upbeat start to trading in New York helped the London market score a second consecutive session of gains today on a quiet day for corporate news.

Moves by Opec to take the steam off oil prices failed to provide the London market with a late lift into positive territory today.

A late-afternoon rally by London shares failed to lift the FTSE 100 Index back above the 4400 barrier today.

Demand for mining stocks and stabilising oil prices helped the London market post solid gains today.

The FTSE 100 Index looked set to close at a new 18-month high today as the London market built on its strong performance of yesterday.

British Airways today looked certain to secure a return to the prestigious list of London’s top 100 shares.

London's leading shares have made modest gains but looked set for a decline over the week as the FTSE 100 Index remained below the high point set on Monday.

London’s leading shares got off to another good start today before seeing early gains tail off as oil giants BP and Shell dragged the FTSE 100 Index back towards its opening mark.

The FTSE 100 Index has made a flying start to the week after taking a positive lead from Wall Street.

Share prices in London reacted to the expected onset of hostilities in the Gulf by posting a fifth successive session of gains today.

Investors shied away from the London market today as lacklustre trading left the benchmark FTSE 100 Index only marginally in positive territory.

Falls in banking and oil stocks dragged the London market still lower today, as investors continued to express concern at the uncertain outlook for the economy.

The FTSE 100 Index is ahead just 2.9 points at 4012.4, despite last night's 3% plus surge on the Dow Jones Industrial Average on Wall Street.

INVESTORS returning from the Christmas break were given a jolt yesterday as the FTSE 100 Index tumbled to its lowest close since October 10.

Investors are being given some respite from the massive falls which have left the FTSE 100 Index at its lowest level for five years.

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 FTSE-100 Index is off 44.2 points in light trading as dealers await this week's decision on interest rates.

The FTSE-100 Index is up 67.0 points, meaning that it has now gained more than 300 points since Thursday night's close.