This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-35192384

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
FTSE 100 higher after Christmas break FTSE 100 higher after Christmas break
(about 5 hours later)
(Noon): Shares in London are treading water on the first day of trading since Christmas amid thin volumes despite strong gains elsewhere in Europe. (Close): London's leading shares ended the day higher as a modest recovery in oil prices helped to boost European and US markets.
The benchmark FTSE 100 index was 14.11 points higher at 6268.75. The benchmark FTSE 100 index rose 59.93 points, or 0.96%, to 6,314.57.
Hikma Pharmaceuticals remained the biggest gainer up 3.55% at 2331p. Meanwhile, shares in Housebuilders Taylor Wimpey, Berkeley Group and Persimmon were all up more than 2%. The price of Brent and US light crude rose 2.5% and 2.2% a barrel respectively, having fallen close to 11-year lows on Monday.
The biggest faller was mining giant Anglo American, down almost 7.5%. Hikma Pharmaceuticals was the biggest gainer, up 4.75%, while housebuilders also outperformed.
It comes amid ongoing weaknesses in the commodities sector, and follows Anglo's sale of a shuttered Australian mine for A$25m (£12.2m; $18m) on Thursday. Shares in Taylor Wimpey, Berkeley Group and Persimmon were all up between 2.9% and 3.5%.
Also down were commodities trading firm Glencore and Chilean miner Antofagasta, down 0.7% and 2.6% respectively on continuing worries over China's economic slowdown. The biggest faller on the index was mining giant Anglo American, down almost 7.5%.
Shares in insurers were lower with warnings of more disruption in Cumbria and southern and central Scotland as Storm Frank threatens to bring more misery to flood-hit communities in the north. It comes amid ongoing weaknesses in the commodities sector and follows Anglo's sale of a shuttered Australian mine for A$25m (£12.2m; $18m) last week.
RSA Group was 1.4% lower at 424.80p while Aviva was 0.19% lower at 518p. Also falling were commodities trading firm Glencore and Chilean miner Antofagasta, down 0.7% and 2.6% respectively, on continuing worries over China's economic slowdown.
Elsewhere, European shares were trading more strongly with Germany's Dax up 1.4% at 10802 and France's Cac-40 1.2% higher at 4676. European shares were trading more strongly, with Germany's Dax up 1.9% and France's Cac 40 1.8% higher.
On the currency markets, the pound fell 0.57% against the euro to €1.352 and 0.56% against the dollar to $1.482. On the currency markets, the pound fell 0.35% against the euro to €1.355, and 0.78% against the dollar, to $1.479.