Dow Jones

It seems European stock markets have yet to pull back from last week's dismal trading- sparked by the Madrid bomb attack - as the FTSE 100 is again on a downward turn in London this morning.

Stock markets in Europe managed to pull themselves back after yesterday's slide and the Madrid bombings, led in the UK by life insurance firms.

It is not too surprising to find the FTSE 100 index is struggling to maintain its starting position this morning, as the after-effects of yesterday's Madrid bombings will still be felt across European stock markets.

The FTSE 100 is currently down about 87 points or 2%to 4,458 after results reports from financial firms quickly dragged the index down.

The FTSE 100 closed up for the second day in a row this week - but only just - led by drinks giants Allied Domecq, Diageo and SABMiller.

Another high street bank, Lloyds TSB, has substantially increased its profits again in the last year but boosted trading on the FTSE 100 by only a fraction this morning.

The benchmark FTSE 100 ended the day up 6.7 points at 4,553.8 after UK stocks rose for the second day in three, paced by retailer GUS.

The FTSE 100 index ended the day down, even thought sterling hit a new six-week high against the dollar.

The benchmark FTSE 100 is currently up about 4 points to 4,562 after UK stocks commenced trading on a mixed note.

The FTSE 100 closed up 34 points at 4,559 and UK share prices rose for the third day in four, after the Bank of England left the base rate unchanged at 4%.