Markets edged into positive territory today to break a three-day losing streak, as investors made a cautious return after a turbulent spell of economic data.
The FTSE 100 Index made modest headway to close up 27.2 points at 6,276.9, a gain of 0.4%.
In a quiet session for UK corporate news, airline and travel firms made headway as nervousness over a recent outbreak of deadly bird flu in China began to fade.
Stocks fell sharply on Friday after authorities ordered the slaughter of all poultry at a Shanghai market where the virus was detected. However there was a recovery for Thomson Holidays owner TUI Travel on the FTSE 100, ahead 3.8p at 302.4p. FTSE 250 rival Thomas Cook added almost 2%, a gain of 1.9p to 107.7p
Banks were among the stocks under pressure, with Lloyds Banking Group down 0.71p at 46.31p, Royal Bank of Scotland off 3.4p at 266.1p and Barclays 2.8p down at 277.2p.
Marks & Spencer also fell as the City braced itself for another set of poor trading figures in general merchandise on Thursday. Analysts fear the decline could be as high as 6% and M&S shares were off 1.5p to 375.3p.
The biggest FTSE 100 risers were Polymetal International up 44p to 882p, Weir Group 92p ahead at £22.76, Tullow Oil up 37p at £11.91 and Antofagasta ahead 29.5p at 990.5p.
Among the biggest fallers on the FTSE 100 were Resolution, down 4.5p at 261.4p, and Centrica down 4.3p at 369.8p.
Carrie Keenan, of investment manager and financial planning specialist Brewin Dolphin in Aberdeen, noted Cairn Energy moved ahead 3.3% to 282.35p, while Aberdeen Asset Management advanced 2.87% to close at 408.5p.
Fallers included Faroe Petroleum, which shed 7.25% at 128.5p, and Optos, which gave up 2.83% at 147.875p.
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