FTSE flat as oil prices hold steady

Topping the list of FTSE gainers is Royal Dutch Shell with gains of 16p, or 0.89%, to 1,806p, while BG Group is following a close second, up 4.5p, or 0.82%, to 552p. BP is also up 5p, or 0.79%, to 635.5p. On the downside, PartyGaming has fallen 7.5p, or 5.54%, to 128p, after Lehman cut its rating on the stock to "underweight" from "overweight" following a strong rally in the stock on the back of hopes for further growth in the sector. Mining shares have also fallen back after gold shed 1% in Asian trade and dealers said they expected a steep correction in the price of the precious metal...