FTSE

Miner BHP Billiton led the FTSE up 9 points to 6,355 in morning trading, as the Anglo-Australian giant announced massive profit rises and a $10bn share buyback programme.

Analyst upgrades to Lloyds TSB have helped the FTSE gain some 26 points to 6,343 this morning.

Johnson Matthey, the specialist supplier of platinum for catalyst systems, has helped the FTSE put on about 2 points to 6,312 this morning.

The long-awaited deal to acquire steelmaker Corus has pushed the FTSE up about 4 points to 6,246 this morning.

Rising oil prices on cold weather has helped the FTSE up about 6 points to 6,234 this morning.

The FTSE 100 index is marginally up 51 points to 6,279 this morning, even as market participants digest latest minutes from the MPC about the vote for an interest rate hike in the past few weeks.

Concerns over spot oil prices falling helped the FTSE shed about 27 points this morning as BP and Shell both got caught in the cross-fire.

UK shares fell this morning sending the FTSE 100 index down some 20 points to 6,220.

BT is among the companies losing ground today as the FTSE 100 index is down by a marginal 3.7 points to 6,241.50 this morning.

Most FTSE 100 stocks made gains this morning, helping the index gain about 50 points to 6,240.