The FTSE100 was only marginally lower at 5,618.7 with the FTSE250 down 26.2 points at 9,0756 and the FTSE Smallcaps 14.8 points higher at 3,323.6.

Volume was strong, with 2.38 billion shares changing hands in 336,256 deals.


Wall Street opened lower. The DJIA is currently down 9.50 points at 11,005.70, while the Nasdaq is down 12.79 points at 2,131.35.


Today’s look at individual Stocks:


Mining stocks reversed early strong gains, after China, the world's fastest-growing economy, confirmed that it is to attempt to cap growth by raising its bank reserves by 50 basis points.


BHP Billiton went down 17p to 695p, while Xstrata dropped 29p to 1,937p and Antofagasta closed down 27p at 1,899p.


A broker comment saw shares in Marks & Spencer go higher, up 14p at 568.5p, lifted by bullish comments from Deutsche Bank, which reiterated its buy recommendation on the retailer and 655p target. The broker noted that M&S shares have fallen 13% in the last month due to the market's belief that the group's recovery has now petered out.


J Sainsbury (the UK's third biggest food retailer) was up 2.75p at 323.75p, as it is expected on Wednesday to report an acceleration in sales growth in the first quarter. Analysts expect Sainsbury to have achieved a greater rate of growth than Tesco (the UK's biggest grocer) which this week announced a first-quarter like-for-like sales improvement of 4.5%.


Shares in Wm Morrison Supermarkets closed up 5.5p at 200p amid vague talk the food retailer could attract a 240p per share bid.


Tullow Oil was also up today 7p to 327.5p on news of a North Sea gas discovery, although this was tempered by reports that another well is dry. Tullow said the K4 exploration well in the UK has encountered gas-bearing sands of reservoir quality, and significant upside potential has been identified. The success of K4 also provides further encouragement for the remaining exploration potential of this area.


UK oil and gas company Burren Energy, up 19.5p at 767.5p, said hopes have been raised of setting up a new drilling platform at the M'Boundi oil field in Congo, after recent tests produced one of the best results seen on the field's western edge. Burren's French partner Maurel & Prom, which manages the drilling operation, reported a flow rate of 2,450 barrels a day.