Around the World's Markets: London

BLUE CHIPS were unimpressed by the euro's launch. Other European markets moved ahead sharply, but Footsie closed off 3.2 points at 5,879.4p. At one time it was up 34.3.

BP Amoco, the new oil giant and Footsie's biggest constituent, marked its debut with a 21.5p gain to 924.5p in busy trading. Telecom shares buzzed again after good festive season mobile phone sales. Orange, up 13.7 per cent to 794.5p, led the charge with Vodafone rising 7.5 per cent to 1,049p, a peak.

Derek Pain, page 17