Dow Jones

The FTSE 100 index has finally closed up over the 4,700 threshold again, in a positive day's trading for almost all firms.

In the UK, the FTSE 100 Index has started well, breaching the 4700 mark led by Lloyds TSB.

The FTSE 100 index has ended the week on a high adding, 5.6 points to 4694 points at close but still ending under the 4700 mark, paced by Cairn Energy firm and British Tobacco companies.

In the UK, the FTSE 100 Index is trading around 4,700 points adding 10.80 points to 4699.20 points this morning.

The FTSE 100 index closed down the second day in a row on Thursday, but the market was led down this time by telecom stocks.

Trading on FTSE 100 stocks is cautious this morning as oil prices continue to fluctuate and the market awaits the latest interest rates decision of the Bank of England.

The FTSE 100 struggled to pull back from its earlier losses of the day as the New York oil price rose again from its lowest price in almost four months, and metal prices knocked confidence in mining firms.

In the UK, the FTSE 100 Index has lost ground early this morning, paced by mining firm Rio Tinto, after the price of crude oil traded at its lowest price since the end of July.

An ailing dollar meant the FTSE 100 Index was unable to hold onto gains today, closing down 25.10 points lower at 4,722.80 by the close.

FTSE stocks have lost ground this morning after further gloom hit the US jobs market and the dollar continued to loose value.