FTSE 100

London markets opened higher this morning, regaining some of Thursday's lost ground, with the FTSE 100 up 12.32 points (0.29%) to 4,246.59.

London saw shares fall in early trading, with the FTSE 100 down 35.77 points (0.82%) to 4,304.94 as investors exercise caution ahead of key US employment data.

The Dow Jones followed the FTSE 100, climbing strongly after opening, up 95 points (1.1%) to 8,543.

Miners were pulling the FTSE 100 down in early trading, despite having done well throughout the week on rising metals prices.

Anthony Bolton's Fidelity Special Situations successor Sanjeev Shah has increased exposure to banking stocks despite the sector playing a significant role in the worst ever year for the FTSE 100.

HBOS, Royal Bank of Scotland and Alliance & Leicester led the decliners in London on Thursday, as yet more fresh gloom about the UK housing market contributed to a 48.45-point, 0.8% fall in the blue chip FTSE 100 index.

Lehman Brothers has launched Enhanced Returns Plan Issue 5, offering 100% capital protection, in conjunction with plan manager DRL.

The FTSE 100 closed 0.76% lower at 6007.60, fuelled by massive falls in banking stocks.

Investment firm Alliance Trust is set to join the FTSE 100 on Thursday, it has been announced.

The FTSE 100 is fighting back this morning after sliding in early trading, currently 35.1 points down, or 0.51%, to 6609.4.