Dow Jones

The FTSE 100 is currently up about 8 points to 4,545 after UK stocks commenced Tuesday morning on an upward trend, paced by Imperial Chemical Industries.

Talk of a takeover at BG Group, formerly British Gas, is driving the FTSE 100 up this morning and has helped to push the index back over the 4500 mark.

The benchmark FTSE 100 ended up 44.80 points at 4,537.00 after UK stocks rose for the third day in four, led by a gas company.

The FTSE 100 is still climbing this morning, thanks to gains for Aviva, in a move which could see the benchmark index close the week above the 4500 barrier.

The benchmark FTSE 100 ended this week down 23.70 points at 4,492.20 after UK stocks fell, paced by Lloyds TSB and WPP Group.

The benchmark FTSE 100 is currently down about 17 points to 4,480 after UK stocks dropped for the second day paced by the banking industry.

The benchmark FTSE 100 is currently up about 2 points to 4,526 after UK stocks rose for the third day in four, paced by UK retailers.

The benchmark FTSE 100 index ended the day up 9.3 points at 4,524.3 after UK stocks rose for the second day in three.

Having made great gains in the London stock markets yesterday, traders today took the profits from share increases to close the FTSE 100 flat but still above 4500.

The FTSE 100 closed up 72.7 points to 4,515.6 at the end of London trading on Thursday, its biggest gain in five months, thanks to improved profits at Royal Bank of Scotland.