Dow Jones

The FTSE 100 has erased about half its gains from yesterday currently down 20.1 points to 5207.7 despite good earnings reports from Shell and British American Tobacco.

After an early afternoon lull, the FTSE 100 has ended up 45.7 points, or 0.88%, to 5227.80 at its close, with oil and mining stocks topping the risers.

The FTSE 100 index has made a good start this morning rising 36.1 points or 0.7% to 5218.2 thanks to gains by Anglo American and BP.

The FTSE 100 has ended the day 25.5 points, or 0.49%, lower to 5182.10 after some poor earnings news and an unconvincing start on Wall Street kept the FTSE down.

The FTSE 100 has opened slightly weaker falling 7.7 points to 5,199.9, thanks to dropping shares from BP and Whitbread, although a rally on Wall Street after the nomination of the next US Federal Reserve chairman is lending support.

A solid performance from oil and mining stocks and a big advance from SCi entertainment has pushed the FTSE 100 through the 5,200 mark leaving it up 65.50 points, or 1.27%, to 5,207.60 at the end of trading.

The FTSE 100 has advanced 11.6 points, or 0.2, to 5153.70, in early trading, as Compass Group rose after reports it may be a target for a US buyout firm. Corus Group and BP also made early gains.

The FTSE 100 fell sharply again today closing down 22 points, or 0.43%, to 5,142.10, as concerns over the investigation at Compass sent the caterer to the bottom of the pile.

The FTSE 100 has got off to a poor start falling 1 point, or less than 0.1%, to 5163.1 in early trading, with Compass Group, the world's largest catering company, leading the decline.

After a bright start the FTSE 100 sliding into an eventual loss of 3.70 points, 0.07%, to 5164.10, after spending the day in uncertainty as tumbling crude oil prices hit the energy sector.