Dow Jones

9am: The FTSE 100 is hovering around the 5,900 mark in early trading on the back of weakening metal prices sending mining stocks deep into the red.

European markets opened lower on news of IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn's arrest on rape charges, amid fears his absence from eurozone talks will delay bailout plans for Portugal and Greece.

The FTSE 100 has opened in positive territory after a commodities bounce-back lifted Wall Street yesterday.

The FTSE 100 rose at opening today after a boost from US markets which closed higher on Monday.

Asian markets rallied overnight after the Federal Reserve indicated it will not hike interest rates.

Updated at 14.30: London's FTSE has stormed through the 6,000 barrier to hit 6026, up 2.2%, as strong corporate earnings and a new record high for gold prices triggered a European rally.

The FTSE opened higher this morning to recover some of yesterday's losses following Standard & Poor's outlook downgrade of the US.

Standard & Poor's has cut its credit outlook for the US from stable to negative for the first time since 1941, causing the dollar and shares to tumble.

London's leading share index edged up this morning while other global markets were cautious on fears China will hike interest rates to stem soaring inflation.

The iShares MSCI Japan index ETF fell 0.6% in midday trading, after Japan was hit by a second earthquake with a magnitude of 7.4, prompting another tsunami warning.