Nasdaq

The FTSE 100 index has made a good start this morning, led by mining stocks Rio Tinto and Vedanta buoyed by a rise in metal prices.

The FTSE 100 index has rallied slightly by 20.9 points or 0.36% to 5,843.2 in early trading, after the oil price dipped again and boosted many stocks such as cruising firm Carnival.

Stocks on the FTSE 100 index are heading south again this morning, led by brewer SABMiller and pharmaceutical firm Shire.

The FTSE 100 index is making strong gains this morning, up 33 points or 0.57% to 5,890, on the back of rising commodity prices and good news for online gambling giant PartyGaming.

The FTSE 100 index is struggling to hold its ground again this morning and is down 21 points 0.37% to 5,875, as confidence about the profit potential of consumer giants Vodafone and Marks & Spencer is waning.

Standard Life has already seen gains on its share value since entering the FTSE 100 index this morning but elsewhere trading is down as oil stocks are seeing values reverse last week's gains.

The FTSE 100 index is struggling to stay afloat this morning, down 24 points or 0.4% to 5,866, led by life insurance giant Aviva who is said to be in talks to buy a US rival.

The FTSE 100 index failed to make any headway in trading today and closed almost flat at its starting point, as a result of further selling in online poker group PartyGaming.

Shopping, building and money seem to be the sectors affecting the UK's main stock market this morning, but the bigger stories of the day are to be found in the rise of Japanese stocks and new troubles for GM.

Sales are up at Sainsbury but it's not enough to keep analysts happy it seems, and Unilever has today gone ex-dividend so the FTSE is moving south in early trading.