Around the World's Markets: London

THE STOCK market closed higher, thanks to a 4 per cent gain for oil giant BP Amoco as Wall Street shrugged off the impact of a key ruling against software giant Microsoft. The FTSE 100 ended 17.7 points, or 0.28 per cent, higher at 6,374.3 - its fourth consecutive rising session.

The oil major's stock eventually trimmed gains to end 22p or 4.1 per cent higher at 563p but still contributed some 21 points to the FTSE 100 on its own.