BP

The FTSE 100 Index has risen 19.7 points, or 0.4%, to 5642.5 so far this morning led by commodities companies BP, BHP Billiton and Anglo American as oil trades near $60 a barrel and gold prices increase.

The FTSE 100 Index has risen 2.1 points, or less than 0.1%, to 5597.50 in the first hour of trading after the Christmas break.

In the UK the FTSE 100 index of leading shares ended down 66.6 points, or 1.2%, to 5,427.8 at its close a short while ago.

In the UK, the FTSE 100 Index has declined 11.7 points, or 0.2%, to 5358 so far this morning, paced by Smiths Group.

The FTSE 100 index of leading shares closed 21.8 points higher today at 5,429.7.

Energy prices are driving trading in UK-listed stocks this morning as Centrica says it has doubled its profits and Premier Oil says its profits were increased by the continuining rise in oil prices.

In the UK the FTSE 100 Index of leading shares slipped 31 points, or 0.6%, to 5344.10 paced by energy companies including BP and BG Group as oil traded near a three-week low.

The FTSE 100 index added 28.9 points or 0.6%, to 5270.7 by close of business, led by BP, after Lehman Brothers increased its Brent oil-price forecast and its view of the industry as a whole.