FTSE keeps its head above water despite BP

Trading has been relatively strong on the FTSE 100 today, even though BP announced its third-quarter profits fell 20%, thanks largely to high street retailers and slightly improved profits for Marks & Spencer. The FTSE 100 closed up just five points to 5214.1 after BP plc said the multi-million dollar oil company lost 20% of its profits or £750m in the last quarter because of falling oil and gas prices. BP fell 18.5p or 3.3% to 541.5p after profits dropped to $3.05bn from £3.8bn, leading Shell Transport & Trading Co to also fall 14.5p or 2.8% to 506p and wipe 23 points off the FTSE 10...