FTSE

It was an up and down session for the FTSE 100 today, as leading stocks threatened to push the index in the black late on. It finally closed 30.2 points down, or 0.45%, to 6614.30.

Northern Rock led the FTSE higher, up by 0.09% to 6730.70, at the close of the week on news a consortium led by Richard Branson's Virgin planned to make a bid for the firm.

The FTSE100 began the day down 45.40 or 0.68% at 6679.10 with miners acting as the main drag on the index.

The FTSE 100 closed above 6,700 for the first time since mid-July today, finishing the Thursday session up 91.5 points, or 1.38%, to 6724.5.

Caution in the UK mortgage market appears to have spread to commercial property, data supplied by FTSE suggests.

A sluggish start on Wall Street didn't hamper the FTSE too much this afternoon, as financials drove the index to a solid gain of 34.8 points, or 0.54%, to 6535.2.

The FTSE 100 broke through the magical 6500 barrier thanks to a terrific day for mortgage lenders, only to be dragged back in afternoon trading to close on 6486.4 - a 53.4 point gain, or 0.83%.

The FTSE 100 is up this morning as the mortgage sector posts some kind early gains, the index currently sits 51.5 points higher, or 0.77%, to 6448.4.

Almost a third of potential investors are put off making a stock market investment because they do not know enough about the markets to make a confident investment, according to the Association of Investment Companies (AIC).

A solid morning on Wall Street led the FTSE 100 to a late rally this afternoon, closing 25.5 points up, or 0.41%, to 6306.2.