Dow Jones

Despite rumours of a takeover bid for Barclays from Citigroup - which earlier in the day saw its share price climb 11%, the FTSE 100 index has still closed down thanks to worries about profits at BA and Vodafone.

The FTSE 100 index closed up 5.3 points today at 4,413.4 after UK stocks rose paced by Barclays and Reed Elsevier Group.

The benchmark FTSE 100 index is currently up around 15 points to 4,422 after UK stocks rose, paced by Barclays Bank.

The FTSE 100 Index closed down 21.60 points to 4,408.10 today as UK stocks declined, led by losses made by media company British Sky Broadcasting Group.

The FTSE 100 Index is currently down nearly 29 points to 4,400 after UK stocks dropped this morning, led by losses made by BskyB.

Mixed trading on the London stock exchange today was not hindered too heavily by loss of confidence in Prudential shares, after the life insurer announced it would hold onto its Egg stake.

The FTSE 100 index eventually managed to pull back its losses of the day, sparked by the prospect of further Al-Qaeda terrorist attacks in the US and the UK.

Big news in the UK markets this morning is the suggestion HBOS is now considering a takeover bid for Abbey group, but markets are marginally down on the prospect of Al Qaeda terrorist attacks.

Shares in the FTSE 100 gave up some of the gains made in the past three days as investors locked in profits ahead of the weekend, sending the index down 5.6 points to 4,413.10 by the close.

Confirmation of Royal & SunAlliance's sale of its life division to Resolution Life Group has not been enough to keep the FTSE 100 index buoyant this morning as Lloyds TSB also reported its first-half earnings are down.