The UK equities markets were lower on Friday, hurt by Thursday’s losses in New York and concerns that the US economy is cooling down. The FTSE 100 dropped 1.2 percent on Friday to 5,822.3, a decline of 55 points on the week. Meanwhile, the FTSE 250 was 0.7 percent lower on the session to 9,784 but was off only 1.6 points for the week.

Brewer SABMiller fell 2.6 percent to 998p on data showing that a general decline in the volume of beer sold in the US is hurting its Miller brands more than others. Another factor in the decline was weakness in the South African rand. SABMiller does a substantial part of its business in South Africa.

The mining sector was especially hard hit by sell-offs on Friday as investors worried about how demand for commodities will be affected by the slowdown in the US economy. Xstrata was 2.7 percent lower to £21.13, while Anglo American fell 2.8 percent to £21.34 and BHP Billiton dropped 3.2 percent to 887p.

There were few gainers on the day. On the 250, MFI Furniture was 13.1 percent higher to 99p after it sold its retail division, which had been seeing losses. On the 100, there were just two stocks with gains on the day. Building materials group Hanson added 0.7 percent to 680½p as talk continued that Mexican company Cemex is considering a bid. The other blue-chip gainer was Brambles Industries. The pallet supplier gained 2.5 percent to 468½p.

After Monday’s holiday, London markets resumed trade on Tuesday with slightly higher volumes of 2.2 billion shares traded and small gains in both the FTSE 100 and FTSE 250. The 100 added 0.17 percent to 5,888.3 after going as high as 5,921.3 earlier in the session, while the 250 was 0.4 percent higher to 9,531.8

Airlines and cruise ship operators benefited from declining oil prices, which dropped below $70 dollars per gallon. Cruise ship operator Carnival added 2.6 percent to £21.74. Among airlines, British Airways was up 4 percent to 414¼p and EasyJet gained 4.5 percent to 454½p.

Brewers were up on the day as well. Diageo added 0.1 percent to 945p ahead of its full-year report, due on Thursday. SABMiller gained 0.6 percent to £10.13. Both were said to be interested in bidding for Australian drinks company Foster’s.

Another of the day’s gainers was plumber and buildings materials group Wolseley, which added 2.2 percent to £10.89 ahead of an interim report due next month. The gains came after Wolseley lost a quarter of its value recently.

Among losers on the day was MFI Furniture Group, which dropped 4.2 percent to 85p on reports that the sale of its losing retail business in the UK ahs run into problems. Also lower was coal-fueled power station operator Drax, down 1.8 percent to 902p.

Equities markets in London were mixed on Thursday, with the FTSE 100 dropping 0.1 percent to 5,770.9 but the FTSE 250 up by 22.8 points to 9,207.2.

The aerospace sector managed gains on the day. Ultra Electronics, which supplies targeting systems for fighter aircraft, added 15.1 percent to £11 on bids rumors. BAE Systems was up by 1.8 percent to 347¼p, while Rolls Royce advanced by 1.1 percent to 411¼p.

Airlines also saw their shares advance. British Airways was up 3 percent to 368¼p on anticipation of broker upgrades after it reports its quarterly figures next month and as oil prices declined. Meanwhile, EasyJet gained 4.7 percent to 436½p.

BSkyB advanced by 2.5 percent to 544¼p, after its chief executive presented information on its new broadband business to Deutsche Bank.

The internet gaming sector did not fare as well. SportingBet dropped 3 percent to 174¾p, while PartyGaming was 7.4 percent lower to 87¼p and 888 Holdings fell 9.4 percent to 161p, all on concerns that US shareholders will sell their holdings now that the US Department of Justice is taking measures against gambling on the internet.

Other big losers included MFI Furniture, which was down 20 percent to 85p, and Colt Telecom, 23.3 percent lower to 436½p.

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 sha

Activity in the telecommunications sector helped send London equities markets higher on Monday. The FTSE 100 was up 0.6 percent to 5,897.8, the highest it has closed in nearly five years. Meanwhile, the FTSE 250 advanced by 0.8 percent to an all-time high close of 9,546.0.

Both Vodafone and BT Group were up on the news that AT&T has made a $67 billion bid for BellSouth. This move in the US highlighted mergers and acquisitions activity in the UK and spurred hopes of further activity.

Vodafone was up 2.9 percent to 125p on the proposed sale of its Japanese division, which has not been performing to expectations, to Tokyo-based SoftBank, and on speculation that Vodafone would also sell its 45 percent stake in US company Verizon Wireless, even though most analysts felt that the sale of the Verizon shares was unlikely. BT Group added 5.1 percent to 231¾p.

Elsewhere in the sector, Colt Telecom was up 6.9 percent to 69¾p, Cable and Wireless gained 0.5 percent to 108p on rumors that it was being targeted by Thus Group, which was even at 15½p.

In the tobacco sector, BAT gained 2.5 percent to £14.43 on an upgrade from Citigroup.

In the retail sector, Matalin gained 3.8 percent to 198p on a report that its founder and chairman was talking to private equity buyers about selling his majority stake in the company. MFI Furniture was up 4.1 percent to 94¼p, also on interest from private equity groups. Home shopper N Brown gained 8.4 percent on the day to 214p.

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.