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According to Reuters, the index was 6.47 points lower at 09:23 BST.
The fall, which was prompted by investors opting to take profits after the recent rally, took the market to 4,910.33 points.
A decline in the price of oil led to many companies in this sector seeing their share price retreat, with BP, BG Group and Royal Dutch Shell shedding between one per cent and 1.5 per cent.
Antofagasta was the worst hit among mining firms, as its worse-than-anticipated first-half earnings report resulted in it sliding by 1.4 per cent.
There were also drops for Kazakhmys, Xstrata and Rio Tinto, however firms in the banking sector fared better, with the share prices of many financial institutions rising.
Market strategist Joshua Raymond noted that activity on the FTSE has been "a little muted".
However, he added that the market "has so far held onto the important 4,900 level, despite trading below it upon market open".
