S&P 500

The FTSE 100 index is down 7.8 points, or 0.12%, to 6,436.6 in early trading, as results data is overshadowing some positive broker notes.

The FTSE 100 index has ended the day down 13.8 points, or 0.21%, to 6,419.5, as there are now fears China may reduce demand for commodities and affect the revenue potential of mining firms.

The FTSE 100 index is holding its ground again this morning, led in the main by commodity miners and firms affected by the dropping oil price.

Analysts upgrade for a handful of stocks on the FTSE 100 dominated trading on an otherwise uneventful day, to lift the FTSE 100 index by seven points or 0.1% to almost 6,318.

The FTSE 100 is struggling to hold ground this morning as attention has turned to the high street and reports from electrical retail DSG of reduced profit margins.

UK stockmarkets took another blow and closed the day down by the end of Tuesday's trading after ONS figures revealed higher inflation and fears about the security of UK utilities operations from terrorists sparks falls for associated stocks.

The FTSE 100 index closed the day up 36 points or almost 0.6% to 6,192.5 on Wednesday after reports suggested British Energy was the government's preferred bidder for British Nuclear.

The FTSE 100 index is just about managing to maintain any gains this morning, led in the main by banking group HBOS and Tate & Lyle, as the drop in oil price is now beginning to affect major stocks.

The FTSE 100 index has made gains this morning for the first time in three days, on the back of recent news for AstraZeneca and Cairn Energy.

The FTSE 100 index is up this morning, rising 22 points or 0.36% to 6,230 led by a flurry of potential takeovers in the energy, finance and media sectors.