FTSE

The FTSE opened up at 5237.75, up 26.46 points, (0.51%) as European stocks edged higher in opening trading, drawing some optimism from Wall Street's late-session comeback.

Revised US economic forecasts and disappointing GDP figures from China hit European markets in early trading on Thursday, with the FTSE falling 0.6%.

Update 12pm: The FTSE dropped more than half a percentage point into the red this afternoon following a shaky morning session for banks.

Hopes of a strong Q2 earnings season boosted investor sentiment on Tuesday, helping the FTSE to triple-digit gains.

The FTSE opened higher at 5123.14, up 17.69 points (0.35%), helped by mining companies rebounding from recent losses.

The FTSE opened more than 1% higher on Thursday after Wall Street rallied the most in six weeks to edge back above the 10,000 point barrier.

Updated 2pm: The FTSE posted triple-digit gains in afternoon trading today as renewed optimism about the banking sector buoyed investor sentiment.

The FTSE 100 is edging closer to 5,000 this afternoon as the US markets shared in today's global market rally upon opening.

John Fletcher, head of exchange-traded products at Charles Stanley, looks at how investors can differentiate between the growing number of ETFs

The FTSE has opened trading in positive territory, but fears of a double-dip recession on the back of disappointing US and Chinese economic data still abound.