FTSE

The FTSE index is on the rise this morning, adding 15.9 points, or 0.3%, to 5968, led by Cairn Energy and BP.

M&A activity involving Vodafone, BAA and the London Stock Exchange (LSE) has pushed the FTSE 100 Index closer to the 6,000 barrier in early trading today.

The Association of Investment Trust Companies (AITC) has welcomed the FTSE Equity Indices Committee's decision to continue to include investment trusts in the FTSE-All-Share index.

In the UK stocks have declined, sending the benchmark FTSE 100 index to its first back-to-back slide in three weeks, as mining companies including Antofagasta and Xstrata have slipped.

Gains by Vodafone helped the FTSE 100 index to a slim gain of about 1.5 points to 5,662 after two days of losses.

The FTSE 100 Index rose 62.70 points, or 1.12%, to 5681.5 at its close a short while ago BP and Royal Dutch Shell leading the advance as concern about disruptions to Russian natural-gas deliveries sent energy prices higher.

The FTSE 100 Index has slipped 19.7 points, or 0.4%, to 5618.60 in early trading with Hilton Group pacing the decline, retreating from yesterday's record high and Hilton Group dropping 1.1% to 364.75p after the company sold its lodging unit to Hilton...

The FTSE 100 has fallen 24.4 points, or 0.44%, to 5,504.4, with Royal Bank of Scotland Group leading the decline after the lender said its net interest margins may fall.

The FTSE 100 is making a slow start this morning as it has inched up by 6.4 points, or 0.12%, to 5323.70, despite declines by BP and Royal Dutch Shell as the price of oil is trading at a three-month low.

Despite a steady start this morning the FTSE is down 16.5 points, or 0.32% at 5,166.3.