Around the World's Markets: London

BLUE CHIPS ended little changed after another busy trading session, with share turnover again topping 1 billion. Footsie closed just 4.8 points higher at 5,885.7 after early gains were wiped out before New York provided some late encouragement. Supporting shares were slightly more confident.

LucasVarity, seemingly the target for two American groups, jumped 42p to 286p, comfortably heading the Footsie leader board. Microsoft's pounds 300m investment in the NTL cable group stimulated cable shares.

Derek Pain, page 21