Economics / Markets

British Airways helped the FTSE 100 into an early lead on Friday after announcing 800 employees had agreed to work for free for up to one month.

Miners were pulling the FTSE 100 down in early trading, despite having done well throughout the week on rising metals prices.

The FTSE 100 slipped in early morning trading after making a quick gain straight after the opening bell.

The FTSE 100 has added 14.35 points (0.34%) to 4248.40 this morning despite news the outlook for jobs in the UK is worse than the 1990s recession.

The Dow Jones has fallen 78 points (0.9%) to 8,461 this morning after the World Bank released a gloomy forecast for global economic growth this year.

Rathbone's Bryn Jones takes a view on the flight to government bonds

The FTSE 100 fell 1% on opening, with miners reacting to the news Xstrata has approached Anglo American over a merger.

Wall Street climbed immediately after opening Friday as 'Quadruple Witching' day kicked in.

London markets rose in early trading, following growing confidence in the US and global economies.

The Dow Jones opened marginally higher on Thursday on the back of positive, and unexpected, weekly jobless figures.