London’s leading index was broadly flat today as fears over Europe’s banks were offset by a strong consumer confidence survey on the other side of the Atlantic.
The FTSE 100 Index closed less than 2 points ahead at 5,351.5 after a volatile week as eurozone problems remained firmly in the spotlight.
Insurer Aviva closed 0.4p higher at 268.4p after investment firm Exane BNP Paribas upgraded the stock to outperform and said it believed shares were too cheap after a recent poor run.
Fellow insurer Admiral also had a better performance, with shares rising 32p to £11.16.
Other Footsie risers included Aggreko ahead 50p at £21.57, Tullow Oil up 32p at £13.95 and United Utilities ahead 12p at £6.49.
Big fallers included mining firms Vedanta Resources off 33p at 966.5p and Evraz down 9.4p at 299.3p.
Banking stocks remained sensitive to concerns about the sector in Spain, with Barclays 3.6p lower at 181.7p, Royal Bank of Scotland dropping 0.6p to 20.9p and Lloyds Banking Group losing 1.1p to 25.8p.
PC World and Currys owner Dixons Retail Group lost hold of earlier gains after it received the backing of its banks with a new £300million lending facility. Shares were 7% higher in early trading but closed 0.3p down at 13.9p.
Industrial services group Cape suffered a bloodbath on the FTSE 250 Index as its shares plunged 37% in the wake of a profits warning. Shares were down 118.5p at £2.05.
Barry Shepherd, of investment manager and financial planning specialist Brewin Dolphin in Aberdeen, noted Petrofac adding 1.6% to £15.77 and SSE gaining 1.4% at £13.59. FirstGroup lost 1.8% to 218.9p and Cairn Energy fell 1% to 287.15p.