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The Financial Times reports a three-point rise to 5,198.39 points, which follows a 1.5 per cent drop over the last five sessions, its poorest weekly showing in seven weeks.
The insurer was the strongest performer, with shares rising 4.8 per cent to 126.8p, following confirmation from the firm's South African subsidiary, Nedbank Group, that it is subject to a takeover bid from HSBC.
Oil stocks took the biggest toll on the markets, as doubts remain with investors over prospects for economic growth across global markets.
Mining company shares stocks received some lift from the outcome of the Australian election, which created the possibility of coalition government, possibly affecting the way the sector is taxed.
The news of the overall decline in the FTSE 100 follows comments from one stock exchange expert last week that if the index remained above 5,200 points it would begin to move upwards.
Posted by Greg Secker
