FTSE

Stocks were moved by people stories on both sides of the Atlantic this week, involving companies such as Disney, Shell and Worldcom.

The FTSE 100 index is up about 13 points to 4,538 this morning, led upwards by bank stocks offsetting the anchoring effect of the oil and gas sector.

The gloss came off bigger mining stocks today, sending the FTSE 100 index down 15 points to 4,525.10.

The FTSE 100 index has started off on its second day of gains in a row, adding about 12 points to 4,519 this morning, helped by gains by some of its biggest constituent stocks.

US stock markets opened down this afternoon, paring earlier gains by the FTSE 100 index, which still managed to close up 8.4 points at 4,515.90.

Shares in the UK rose strongly this afternoon after Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan told Congress that US economic growth is strengthening.

The FTSE 100 index closed down 29.30 points at 4,495 today after insurance companies and banks suffered losses.

MmO2 helped the FTSE 100 index add another 23 points to 4,538 this morning, another 52-week high.

Following yesterday's big jump the FTSE this morning is up about 1 point to 4,515, holding above the 4,500 level for the first time since July 2002.

The FTSE 100 index fell 18.60 points to 4,442.90 by the close as investors took profits in a number of stocks that made strong gains in the past couple of days.