Around the World's Markets: LONDON

THE FTSE 100 struggled to hold early gains after another weak opening on Wall Street pulled it back below 6,000 to close at 5,969.7, up 55.8 points on the day.

Renewed confidence in the price of oil and better-than-expected UK trade figures helped the market shake off recent interest-rate nerves, at least for now. Hopes that oil-producing countries would stick to quotas boosted BP Amoco and Shell, although the latter slipped late to end 0.5p off at 462.5p.

Market report, page 25