Upbeat Wall St fails to lift Footsie
The FTSE 100 Index is ahead just 2.9 points at 4012.4, despite last night's 3% plus surge on the Dow Jones Industrial Average on Wall Street.
Financial stocks are helping keep the blue-chip index in positive territory, with Schroders up 14.25p at 533.75p to top of the leaders' board.
Aviva has also risen 6.5p to 482.5p and Prudential has lifted 5.25p to 464.75p while Bradford & Bingley has surged 6p to 299p.
But there are signs of nerves in the retail sector as the season for Christmas trading updates draws closer. Kingfisher is down 6.25p to 221p, GUS has eased 8.5p to 577.5p and Boots has lost 8p to stand at 586p.
One of the session's biggest movements is outside the Footsie after reports said New York-based investment firm Indigo Capital is considering a bid for Regus.
Shares in Regus, which have fallen from a high of 400p in 2001, surged by more than a quarter in early trading - up 3p to 14.25p.
