London’s blue chip index failed to find direction today as investors sat tight ahead of news from the eurozone.
The FTSE 100 Index closed up 13.1 points at 6,277.1 as eurozone finance ministers sat down to discuss the value of the single currency.
Barclays shares were higher amid speculation that a business review by chief executive Antony Jenkins will leave the banking giant intact.
Reports over the weekend suggested that Mr Jenkins will stop short of far-reaching change tomorrow, although his drive for cultural reform will cost 2,000 jobs in investment banking and the closure of its tax avoidance unit. Barclays shares were up 2.9p to 301.5p.
Travel agent Thomas Cook was in the spotlight after Citigroup removed its sell rating on the stock due to its better-than-expected quarterly results last week. Shares rose 0.5p to 88.5p and have jumped 86% so far this year on hopes of a turnaround under new chief executive Harriet Green.
Centrica, which should benefit from higher energy consumption during the current cold snap, rose 1.9p to 342p, while rival SSE lifted 4p to £14.05.
The biggest FTSE 100 risers were Eurasian Natural Resources up 18.1p to 395.8p, Evraz ahead 7.5p to 296p, Morrison’s 6p higher at 256.1p and Aviva up 5.3p to 362.2p.
The biggest FTSE 100 fallers were Randgold Resources down 155p to £58.45, Whitbread off 47p to £26.45, ARM Holdings 15.5p lower at 903.5p and Burberry Group down 20p to £13.45.
Mark Ireland, of investment manager and financial planning specialist Brewin Dolphin in Inverness, noted that risers included Quayle Munro, gaining 4.4% to 600p, while Optos was up 2.2% at 207.38p and Parkmead rose 1.7% to 15.13p.
Fallers included Superglass, off 9.3% at 9.8p, Menzies down 3.7% at 731.5p and Havelock Europa off 3.3% at 14.5p.