Dow Jones

The benchmark FTSE 100 index closed down 8 points today at 4,422.7 after concerns about oil prices dragged British Airways down, alongside Royal & SunAlliance.

The FTSE 100 index eventually closed the day down almost 23 points or 0.5% to 4,430 after downgrades for high street retailers Boots and Next lowered confidence elsewhere.

The FTSE 100 index has started the day flat at 4,455 points after UK stocks fell slightly, paced by declines made by Boots and Next.

A boost in potential profits for Imperial Chemical Industries helped the FTSE 100 to close up today, as confidence in the industrial and mining sectors shifted back into the blue.

The benchmark FTSE 100 index has so far gained about 33 points to 4,451 after UK stocks rose today, paced by Hays and Man Group.

Trading on the London Stock Exchange was less than comfortable today, after Vodafone - one of the largest UK stocks by volume - has had its biggest drop in almost 18 months on the back of a profit warning.

The FTSE 100 index is down about 32 points to 4,397 this morning after a string of poor statements from some of the country's biggest firms.

Despite glimmers of hope this morning for a recovery in the global stockmarkets, the confidence about falling oil prices was shortlived, as traders struggled to find good news to hang onto.

Prospect of improved oil output by OPEC may be part of the reason for a small rise in the FTSE 100 index this morning, but firms are clearly still nervous about which way oil prices will go.

The FTSE 100 is trading up a fraction this morning following financial results from Cadbury Schweppes and manufacturer Tomkins.