In mid-morning trade on Tuesday, the London equities markets were down, with the FTSE 100 down by 0.1 percent to 5,787.6 after early gains. The FTSE 250 was also down 0.1 percent to 9,321.4.

The biggest losers were in the online gambling sector. PartyGaming lost 5.9 percent on the FTSE 100 to trade at 121p while 888.com dropped 5 percent to 187¾p. 888.com trades on the FTSE 250.

On the other hand, properties firms British Land and Land Securities were up after British Land said that its net asset value and its underlying profits were both up. British land advanced by 0.5 percent to £11.91½. Land Securities saw even more of a jump in its shares, gaining 1.6 percent to £17.97.

The mining sector was up as well, with Asian commodities prices firmer. Rio Tinto gained 1.7 percent to £27.79, BHP Billiton was up 1.4 percnet to 956½p, and Xstrata advanced by 1.1 percent to £16.27.

Life assurers were up as well, with Aviva and Prudential each gaining 1 percent to 758½p and 604p respectively.

Engine manufacturer Rolls Royce gained 1.6 percent to 434½p on an upgrade to “buy” from “neutral” by Merrill Lynch.

Cadbury Schweppes also benefited from an upgrade to “buy” from “hold” and a raised target price of 620p, up from 565p, by Citigroup. The confectioners gained 1.6 percent to 566½p.

The London equities markets were down on Monday as the FTSE 100 dropped 0.1 percent to 5,991.7 and the FTSE 250 declined by 0.3 percent to 9,815.0.

Once again, bids and rumours of bids drove trade on the day. In the insurance sector, Prudential was up 10.6 percent to 743½p after it rejected a bid from Aviva, hoping to start a bidding war. Aviva lost 0.2 percent to 848½p after the rebuff. Elsewhere in the sector, Friends Provident gained 2.2 percent to 218¼p, Legal & General gained 0.9 percent to 144¾p, and Royal & Sun Alliance closed 0.4 higher to 140p after losing earlier gains.

BG Group was up 1.2 percent to reach a record share price of 709p on rumors that a major company, perhaps ExxonMobil, would bid on the gas utility.

Homebuilder Crest Nicholson added 4.6 percent to 570½p, for a total gain of 18 percent in a week, after it was said that it could be the target of a bid, perhaps from Bovis Homes. Bovis discounted the rumors.

MFI Furniture was up 0.2 percent to 102¾p despite broker surprise that it has put on 56 percent since last month due to rumors that it might sell its Howden joinery division. Despite the gains, broker Seymour Pierce confirmed its “sell” recommendation and left its target share price at 70p.