Disappointing economic data in the US and a lack of new stimulus measures in Europe left world markets struggling to make progress today.
The FTSE 100 Index was up just 8.4 points at 5,766.6, surrendering most of its earlier gains.
Miners and oil companies weighed on the top flight after disappointing results from Antofagasta, Randgold Resources and BG Group.
Antofagasta was the biggest faller, down 4% or 51p at £11.08, Randgold Resources was off 200p to £51.50, while BG was down 26.5p at 1,424.5p.
Medical devices firm Smith & Nephew topped the risers board, up 4% or 24p to 629.5p, after a first quarter trading update showed improved margins and a slight rise in revenues.
Shares in supermarket group Morrisons were in the red however, after its first decline in like-for-like sales since its Safeway takeover in 2004. Shares were 3.5p lower at 276.5p.
Shares in RSA were down 0.3p at 105.1p even though the insurer announced a 5% increase in net written premiums to £2.2billion in the first quarter of 2012.
Outside the top flight, chocolate retailer Thorntons said it enjoyed a good performance over Easter, with a 1.6% decline in like-for-like store sales representing an improved trend for the embattled retailer. This was offset by a fall in commercial sales through outlets such as supermarkets and triggered a 1.1p drop in its share price to 24.8p.
The biggest Footsie risers included Imperial Tobacco ahead 57p at £25.91, Rolls-Royce up 17.5p at 859p, and Tate & Lyle ahead 14.5p at 713.5p.
Among the biggest Footsie fallers were Weir off 64p at £16.16 and Legal & General off 3.8p at 118p.
David Barclay, of investment manager and financial planning specialist Brewin Dolphin in Aberdeen, noted Melrose Resources was among the risers, adding 3.33% to 123p, while FirstGroup moved ahead by 1.32% to 199.2p and Wood Group gained 1.14% at 797.5p.
Fallers included Standard Life, which declined 2.01% to 219.7p.