Around the World's Markets: London

SHARES CLOSED with a small gain after an erratic session as a rally on Wall Street triggered a late bout of buying. The FTSE 100 finished 29.8 points - 0.48 per cent - higher at 6,276.2.

BP Amoco and Shell, underpinned by recent oil price strength, led the way higher from the outset but SmithKline Beecham, the Anglo-US drug group, fell as much as 5 per cent at one stage, amid rumours of health problems with its drug Avandia.

Market Report, page 21