markets

UK stocks have ended the day marginally higher by clinging to US confidence in its trading market and yesterday's interest rate hike by the Federal Reserve to 2.25%.

In the UK, the FTSE 100 Index is trading around 4,700 points adding 10.80 points to 4699.20 points this morning.

An ailing dollar meant the FTSE 100 Index was unable to hold onto gains today, closing down 25.10 points lower at 4,722.80 by the close.

FTSE stocks have lost ground this morning after further gloom hit the US jobs market and the dollar continued to loose value.

In the UK, the FTSE has started positively this morning adding 8.1 points to 4759 points, recording a gains for a third straight day.

The FTSE 100 index added 15.50 points to 4,751.20 at its close today, led by water companies following a decision by regulator Ofwat to grant higher than expected price increases.

UK stocks are treading cautiously this morning on the news that the price of crude oil dropped 7.4% yesterday.

In the UK, the FTSE 100 Index has recovered from losses made over the past two days, and is this morning led by GlaxoSmithKline.

While most European indices were falling the FTSE 100 made gains of 8.30 points to 4,749.80 despite some afternoon weakness sparked by falling US stocks.

The FTSE 100 has made a recovery from yesterday's losses with the UK benchmark index trading about 13 points higher at 4,731.