Morning Markets: FTSE makes cautious rise after weak US figures

In London, share prices moved upwards as markets opened this morning, though the index is volatile following signs of economic weakness in the US.

The FTSE 100 added 12.99 points (0.26%) to 5,092.26 by around 8.15am. Imperial Tobacco continued to push forward after revealing profits for the year are likely to be in line with expectations, up 1.06% to £18.14. However, natural resources firms were hit as new housing figures cast doubt on the US economic recovery, which could reduce demand. Eurasian Natural Resources lost 3.14% to 849.5p, while Fresnillo dropped 1.69% to 757p. Petrofac, a major supplier to the oil and gas sector, saw its shares drop 1.74% to 958p. Shares fell on Wall Street yesterday as signs of weakness in ...