Around the World's Markets: London

A LACKLUSTRE session left Footsie off 55.6 points at 5,077.5. The stock market is perplexed by indications that the Monetary Policy Committee will not hold an emergency meeting to lower interest rates and may decide to take no action at next month's regular review.

Footsie's dull performance is in sharp contrast to the Dow Jones Average, which has romped ahead. Mid and small cap indices made modest headway. Even takeover stories failed to have an effect. Derek Pain, page 21