dow jones industrial average

The FTSE 100 Index closed at its highest level in four and a half years today, up 84 points, or 1.5%, at 5,809 points, led by BG Group.

The FTSE 100 Index has gained 0.93% to 5,778 points this morning led by recovering miners and triple digit gains on Wall Street.

The FTSE 100 Index closed 21.7 points or 0.4% down at 5,725.1, by close of business on Wednesday, having earlier fallen as low as 5,681.9, as takeover activity partly offset tumbling prices for mining stocks such as Kazakhmys.

The FTSE 100 Index has dropped 57.9 points, or 1%, to 5688.9 points this morning led by mining and energy companies after metals prices fell and crude oil traded near a four-week low.

The FTSE 100 Index fell 0.44% to 5,747 points today led by BP after it reported weaker than expected profits following last year's hurricanes.

The FTSE 100 Index has added 5.9 points, or 0.1%, to 5778.3 points this morning led by Aviva after the insurer said new business increased.

The FTSE 100 Index rose 0.20% to 5,771 points today led by talk of a bid approach for Boots.

The FTSE 100 Index has climbed 14.9 points, or 0.3%, to 5774.2 points this morning, led by GUS and Lloyds Group.

The FTSE 100 Index gained 12 points to 5,759.3 points today, led by housebuilder Persimmon on optimism about the sector outlook.

The FTSE 100 Index has slipped 3.6 points, or 0.1%, to 5743.70 points this morning, led by Kingfisher and Royal Dutch Shell.