London’s benchmark index was up 0.6 per cent at 6,404 in early deals, helped by decent gains from oil major BP.

The Footsie closed at 6,363.46 on Monday, its lowest finish since 20 October, after weak business confidence figures from Germany and the results of bank stress-tests in Europe dampened sentiment.

Meanwhile, Wall Street indices closed broadly flat after weak US services and pending-home sales data, as well as a subdued reading of manufacturing activity in Dallas. The S&P 500 finished 0.1% lower after rising 4.1 per cent last week, its best weekly performance this year.

Markets were set for a calmer morning on Tuesday in the absence of any major economic economic data from this side of the Pond, as investors readied themselves for Wednesday’s Federal Open Market Committee decision, at which US policymakers are expected to bring their quantitative easing (QE) programme to an end.

“The lack of or progress by the indices suggests investors taking a pause after last week’s rally amid all the volatility of late, digesting the flurry of data and changes in views/outlook, ahead of what may/may not be the Fed’s last taper of its QE programme, taking us a step closer to policy normalisation,” said Mike van Dulken, head of research at Accendo Markets.

Lloyds, StanChart disappoint

Underlying profits were higher than expected at Lloyds Banking Group, rising 44% year-on-year in the third quarter, but shares fell in early deals as analysts raised concerns about further PPI impairment charges and the outlook for the UK housing market.

Shares in banking counterpart Standard Chartered dropped after the company reported a 16 per cent decline in operating profit in the third quarter and said that full-year earnings would be lower than last year.

Not all banking stocks were weak in morning trade with RBS, Barclays and HSBC making small gains. Financial peers Aberdeen Asset Management, Prudential and Aviva were also putting in a decent performance.

BP reported that profits fell by almost a fifth in the third quarter, but the stock edged higher after the oil major still beat the market’s expectations and said it was “well on track” to hit its targets this year.

Lower prices and higher costs led to a 26 per cent drop in adjusted profits at BG Group in the third quarter despite revenues at the natural gas firm growing 4 per cent over last year. The stock was flat early on.

Shares of Synthomer sank after the chemicals company delivered a profit warning to investors, saying that the demand momentum in Europe seen earlier in the year had tailed off. The FTSE 250 company, which develops polymers for consumer products, now expected full-year pre-tax profit to be “slightly below current consensus”.

Market Movers

techMARK 2,706.66 +0.69%
FTSE 100 6,404.34 +0.64%
FTSE 250 15,150.72 +0.73%

FTSE 100 – Risers
Mondi (MNDI) 1,011.00p +2.43%
Royal Mail (RMG) 452.60p +1.98%
Ashtead Group (AHT) 1,011.00p +1.86%
Morrison (Wm) Supermarkets (MRW) 154.50p +1.85%
Dixons Carphone (DC.) 386.00p +1.82%
GKN (GKN) 309.80p +1.77%
St James’s Place (STJ) 686.00p +1.71%
Sainsbury (J) (SBRY) 244.50p +1.71%
ITV (ITV) 202.40p +1.71%
CRH (CRH) 1,386.00p +1.69%

FTSE 100 – Fallers
Standard Chartered (STAN) 1,015.00p -7.31%
Lloyds Banking Group (LLOY) 74.06p -1.70%
BG Group (BG.) 1,040.00p -0.29%