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The Stock Market volatility of the past few weeks appears to be subsiding a little as money market rates ease, prompting hopes that the worst of the credit squeeze is over.
By 9.45am leading shares had overcome an early bout of short-term profit-taking to edge higher on balance, supported by a buoyant Wall Street, which in turn was pinning its hope on another government stimulus package to revitalise the economy.
The FTSE 100 index was up five points at 4,287 and the Mid-250 index was 94 points to the good at 6,493.
The overall pattern among the leaders was very mixed.
Retailers put on a brave face in the wake of the Debenhams and Sir Philip Green's Arcadia figures, which proved to be not so bad as feared.
Marks & Spencer rose 9p to 230p and Kingfisher 3p to 117p.
HBOS claimed top spot at 85.3p, up 6.4p, amid growing hopes that the merger with Lloyds TSB will be consummated.
In contrast Far Easter banks HSBC at 807p and Standard Chartered at £10.77 gave back 53p and 33p and Royal Bank of Scotland eased 4.5p to 80p.