Dow Jones

Stocks opened lower in London this morning and the FTSE 100 index is down 28.4 points to 5,313.8, as mining stocks dropped on concern the copper price run might be slowing.

The FTSE 100 index fell 38.5 points, or 0.72% to 5,342.2 at its close a short time ago, as a mixed start on Wall Street and a weak showing from high street chain Next sent the FTSE to its lowest levels of the day.

In the UK the FTSE 100 has dropped 30 points to 5,351 in early trading as British Airways slumped on the back of rising oil prices.

In the UK, leading shares tumbled down from earlier highs to end the day with a token gain of 6.20 points, or 0.12% to 5380.70, as the price of oil pushed up again with a barrel of crude rising towards the $63 mark.

In the UK the FTSE 100 Index has advanced for a second day, adding 17 points, or 0.3%, to 5391.5 led by Marks & Spencer Group after the country's biggest clothing retailer said quarterly revenue gained for the first time in two years.

Commodity metal prices continued to climb today, to the benefit of mining stocks and the FTSE 100 index as a result.

The UK's benchmark index is already off to a strong start this morning as mining stocks offer the best start to the week on the back of strong Pacific performances earlier in the day.

In the UK the FTSE 100 Index has gained 0.1% to 5376.6 at its opening this morning led by Reckitt Benckiser, the maker of Dettol antiseptics.

In the UK the FTSE 100 has fallen 55.1 points, or 1%, to 5372.7 at its opening this morning, tracking losses on Wall Street and led lower by BP and Partygaming.com.

In the UK the benchmark FTSE 100 Index has lost 0.9% to 5445.6 as stocks declined, paced by mining and energy companies including BHP Billiton and Royal Dutch Shell.