S&P 500

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.

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.

Commodity metal prices continued to climb today, to the benefit of mining stocks and the FTSE 100 index as a result.

The UK's benchmark index is already off to a strong start this morning as mining stocks offer the best start to the week on the back of strong Pacific performances earlier in the day.

Hitting that psychological 5,500 FTSE 100 barrier still seems to be just out of reach as the index is today making very slows gains.

3i Group has seen some of the strongest gains this morning, pulling back the losses on the FTSE 100 index as a result of poor sales by high street retailer Boots. But it is the Asian markets which have today seen the best progress.

The FTSE 100 index has closed the day up on the back of a rising oil price and the prospect of problems with supply and distribution from US refineries if Hurricane Rita hits land.