London’s equities markets saw gains Wednesday as some banks were higher.

The FTSE 100 added 0.56 percent to 6,433 while the FTSE 250 gained 0.33 percent to 10,889.3.

Banks were higher on the 100, led by Northern Rock (LSE: NRK), which was up 11.59 percent to 182p after it said it had received some approaches to buy, as well an offer.

HBOS (LSE: HBOS) was 5.12 percent higher to 873p after Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS) added it to its “conviction buy” list, while Alliance & Leicester (LSE: AL) gained 3.4 percent to 733p.

Internet price comparison site Moneysupermarket.com (LSE: MONY) was the best performer of the day on the 250 as it added 5.49 percent to 173p.

Miners were mixed.

Aquarius Platinum (LSE: AQP; ASX: AQP; JSE: AQP) was 5.37 percent higher to £18.63 on the 250, but Xstrata (LSE: XTA) was down 1.44 percent on the 100 to £31.49.

DSG International (LSE: DSGI) had the worst day on the 100, where it dropped 3.71 percent to 129.9p after Credit Suisse (NYSE: CS; SWX: CSGN) cut the retailer’s target share price from 155p to 95p.

Elsewhere in the retail sector, Carphone Warehouse (LSE: CPW) was down 2.1 percent to 350.25p.

Over on the 250, computer software and video game retailer GAME Group (LSE: GAME) fell 6.93 percent to 188p.

The worst performance on the 250 came from the oil sector, where JKX Oil & Gas (LSE: JKX) was 7.02 percent lower to 344.5p.

London’s markets also declined, with the FTSE 100 down 1.07 percent to 6,396.9 and the FTSE 250 closing at 10,853.2, a drop of 1.7 percent.

Miners dropped as metals prices declined.

Vedanta Resources (LSE: VED) had the worst day on the 100 as it fell 6.49 percent to £20.90, while Antofagasta (LSE: ANTO) dropped 6.35 percent to 789.5p and Lonmin (LSE: LMI) was 5.35 percent lower to £32.02.

Northern Rock (LSE: NRK) had another down day, falling 5.17 percent to 163.10 as it said it won’t pay a dividend it had promised to investors.

House builder Taylor Wimpey (LSE: TW) was down 5.72 percent to 255.5p.

Property developer Hammerson (LSE: HMSO), on the other hand, added 1.06 percent to £11.40.

Electric power transmitter National Grid (LSE: NG) had the best day on the 100 with a gain of 2.5 percent to 780p, while Scottish & Southern Energy (LSE: SSE; OTC: SSEZY) added 1.38 percent to £14.73.

Over on the 250, electricity generator Drax Group (LSE: DRX) was 2.38 percent higher to 602p.

Natural gas utility Wellstream (LSE:WSM) gained 10.79 percent to 770p for the best day on the 250.

Construction groups were mixed.

Alfred McAlpine (LSE: MCA) was up 2.83 percent to 449.5p but Severfield-Rowen (LSE: SFR) was 6.65 percent lower to £21.05.

London’s equities markets were mixed on Monday.

The FTSE 100 was 0.14 percent higher to 6,465.9, but the FTSE 250 fell 0.49 percent to 11,040.8.

Northern Rock (LSE: NRK) had another bad day, leading the losers on the 100 with a decline of 11.48 percent to 172p.

House builders and related businesses were lower on both indices. Developer and house builder Barratt Developments (LSE: BDEV) dropped 4.64 percent to 749.5p, while real estate investor and manager Brixton (LSE: BXTN) was down 4.98 percent to 358p.

House builder Taylor Wimpey (LSE: TW) was 5.82 percent lower to 271p, while Redrow (LSE: RDW) fell 5.96 percent to 394.5p.

Meanwhile, building materials group Wolseley (LSE: WOS) dropped 4.83 percent to 807.5p on quarterly profits that were lower due to the slump in the US housing market.

Miners were higher on the session.

Antofagasta (LSE: ANTO) led the 100 with a gain of 6.64 percent to 843p, while Aquarius Platinum (LSE: AQP; ASX: AQP; JSE: AQP) turned in the best performance on the 250 as it added 6.56 percent to £18.53.

Elsewhere in the sector BHP Billiton (LSE: BLT; NYSE: BHP; ASX: BHP) was up 5.68 percent to £17.50, while Vedanta Resources (LSE: VED) was 4.68 percent higher to £22.35 and Xstrata (LSE: XTA) jumped 4.61 percent to £32.89.

Investors Merrill Lynch World Mining Trust (LSE: MWM) gained 3.99 percent to 652p.

In the insurance sector, special risks insurer Beazley Group (LSE: BEZ) was up 3.91 percent to 179.5p.

Online gambler PartyGaming (LSE: PRTY) added 4.81 percent to 27.25p.

London’s markets saw gains Friday, with the FTSE 100 up 0.43 percent to 6,456.7 and the FTSE 250 gaining 0.73 percent to 11,094.7.

Banks were mixed.

While Northern Rock (LSE: NRK) added 4.91 percent to 194.3p, Alliance & Leicester (LSE: AL) dropped another 2.45 percent to 737p.

Energy-related shares were mixed as well.

Electricity generator British Energy (LSE: BGY) turned in the best performance on the 100 with a gain of 6.55 percent to 520.5p, but electric power transmitter National Grid (LSE: NG) was 2.38 percent lower to 759p.

Elsewhere, water utility Kelda Group (LSE: KEL) fell 3.08 percent to 864.5p.

Miners were also mixed.

Vedanta Resources (LSE: VED) added 3.39 percent to £21.35 on the 100, while over on the 250 gold miner Randgold (LSE: RRS; NAS: GOLD) was the worst performer on the 250 with a decline of 4.34 percent to £15.21.

Back on the 100, do-it-yourself retailer Kingfisher (LSE: KFG) fell 3.48 percent to 174.7 for the worst day on the blue-chip index.

Sports retailer JJB (LSE: JJB) was also lower, dropping 3.01 percent to 145p.

PartyGaming (LSE: PRTY) was up 9.47 percent to 26p for the best performance on the 250.

The London Stock Exchange (LSE: LSE) was up 6.7 percent to £18.

Tullow Oil (LSE: TLW; OTC: TUWLY) was also higher, with a gain of 5.84 percent to 607p.

Property developer Daejan Holdings (LSE: DJAN) jumped 6.38 percent to £40.17.

London’s markets were lower on Thursday.

The FTSE 100 was down 0.48 percent to 6,429 while the FTSE 250 was 1.1 percent lower to 11,013.8.

Retailers were mixed on the session, with J Sainsbury (LSE: SBRY) up 2.8 percent to 569p but DIY retailer Kingfisher (LSE: KFG) was down 5.88 percent to 181p and Home Retail (LSE: HOME) fell 5.38 percent to 373.75p.

The best day on the 100 came from cruise line operator Carnival (LSE: CCL; NYSE: CCL), which added 7.08 percent to £23.74.

Insurer Friends Provident (LSE: FP) was 4.24 percent higher to 174.7p, while in the mining sector Anglo American (LSE: AAL) gained 1.69 percent to £31.82 and Kazakhmys (LSE: KAZ) was up 1.9 percent to £14.50.

Northern Rock (LSE: NRK) turned in the worst performance on the 100 once again as it dropped 27.94 percent to 185.2p.

It was followed by Alliance & Leicester (LSE: AL) with a decline of 7.36 percent to 755.5p.

The London Stock Exchange (LSE: LSE) had the best day on the 250, gaining 16.10 percent to €16.87.

The oil sector saw advances.

Cairn Energy (LSE: CNE) was up 3.79 percent to £20, while Tullow Oil (LSE: TLW; OTC: TUWLY) added 4.37 percent to 573.5p.

The worst performance of the day on the 250 came from the leisure sector, where bar and restaurant operator Luminar (LSE: LMR) dropped 9.51 percent to 633p.

Mortgage lender Bradford & Bingley (LSE: BB) was down 8.61 percent to 299.75p, while public transport group Stagecoach (LSE: SGC) fell 5.85 percent to 225.5p.

Miners were the big gainers in London on Wednesday, where the FTSE 100 gained 2.81 percent to 6,460 and the FTSE 250 was 3.09 percent higher to 11,136.3.

The five biggest gainers on the 100 were all in the mining sector, where gains came on hopes that the US interest rate cut will help prop up demand for metals.

Anglo American (LSE: AAL) had the best day on the 100, with a gain of 8.27 percent to £31.29.

Vedanta Resources (LSE: VED) was 7.74 percent higher to £20.73, while Kazakhmys (LSE: KAZ) was up 7.07 percent to £14.23, Xstrata (LSE: XTA) added 6.76 percent to £30.50 and Antofagasta (LSE: ANTO) gained 6.71 percent to 787p.

Elsewhere in the sector, BHP Billiton (LSE: BLT; NYSE: BHP; ASX: BHP) was up 6.3 percent to £16.27 and Rio Tinto (LSE: RIO) was 5.8 percent higher to £39.47.

Over on the 250, gold miner Randgold (LSE: RRS; NAS: GOLD) jumped 9.37 percent to £15.64.

Financial services group Bluebay (LSE: BBAY) had the best day on the 250, adding 20.58 percent to 470.25p.

Mortgage lenders also had a good day with Paragon (LSE: PAG) up 9 percent to 327p, while Bradford & Bingley (LSE: BB) gained 10.9 percent to 328p.

Northern Rock (LSE: NRK) dropped again, however, dropping 16.01 percent to 257p for the worst performance on the 100, on rumors that it has received a bid and could be sold for less than market value.

The tobacco sector was also lower on the session.

Imperial Tobacco Group (LSE: IMT) was 0.14 percent lower to £22.07, while British American Tobacco (LSE: BATS; AMEX: BTI; KLSE: BAT) was down 0.3 percent to £16.85.

There were gains in London’s equities markets on Tuesday.

The FTSE 100 added 1.63 to 6,283.3 and the FTSE 250 gained 0.54 percent to 10,802.8.

The 100 was helped out by Alliance & Leicester (LSE: AL) when the bank gained even more on the session than it lost Monday.

A&L was up 32.17 percent to 793p, by far the best performance on the blue chip index.

Other banks also gained although the sector was mixed.

Northern Rock (LSE: NRK) was up 8.22 percent to 306p after two consecutive sessions of over 30 percent declines each day.

Barclays Bank (LSE: BARC; NYSE: BCS; TYO: 8642) was 4.48 percent higher to 607p.

On the other hand, Lloyds TSB (LSE: LLOY) dropped 1.75 percent to 504p.

Also seeing a gain on the 100 was property investment group Liberty International (LSE: LII), which was up 5.06 percent to £11.

House builder Persimmon (LSE: PSN), however, dropped 0.53 percent to 941p, while miner Lonmin led the losers on the 100 as it fell 4.35 percent to €31.46.

Mortgage lenders did well on the 250.

Paragon (LSE: PAG) was 5.86 percent higher to 302.5p, while Bradford & Bingley (LSE: BB) jumped 12.28 percent to 313.25p for the best performance of the day on the 250.

Auto rental group Avis Europe (LSE: AVE) was 2.55 percent higher to 40.25p.

The oil sector didn’t do as well.

Venture Production (LSE: VPC) dropped 1.75 percent to 731.5p, while Tullow Oil (LSE: TLW; OTC: TUWLY) led the losers on the 250 with a decline of 3.95 percent to 511p.

London’ equities markets saw substantial declines again on Monday.

The FTSE 100 was 1.69 percent lower to 6,182.8 and the FTSE 250 dropped 1.91 percent to 10,745.3.

Northern Rock (LSE: NRK) was the biggest decliner on the 100 as it fell 35.45 percent to 282.75p, followed closely by Alliance & Leicester (LSE: AL) with a drop of 31.27 percent to 600p.

Over on the 250, mortgage lender Bradford & Bingley (LSE: BB) was 15.39 percent lower to 279p.

But the worst performer on the 250 was property developer Minerva (LSE: MNR), which was down 16.34 percent to 216.25. House builders fell on the 100.

Persimmon (LSE: PSN) dropped 6.89 percent to 946p, while Barratt Developments was 7.29 percent lower to 769p.

Pubs operator Enterprise Inns dropped 7.37 percent to 578p. Back on the 250, surgical supplies company Gyrus Group (LSE: GYG) was 8.08 percent lower to 398p.

The best performer of the session on the 250 was drug maker Hikma Pharmaceuticals (LSE: HIK) with a gain of 4.68 percent to 425p.

Northern Foods (LSE: NFDS) added 4 percent to 97.5p, while rail and bus transport firm Go-Ahead Group (LSE: GOG) was up 1.66 percent to £25.18.

Software maker Sage Group (LSE: SGE) had the best day on the 100, where it gained 2.77 percent to 250p.

Medical devices manufacturer Smith & Nephew (LSE: SN) added 0.7 percent to 572p, while in the telecommunications sector BT Group (LSE: BT.A; NYSE: BT) was 0.16 percent higher to 316.75p.

London’s equities markets saw declines on Friday.

The FTSE 100 1.17 percent lower to 6,289.3 and the FTSE 250 falling 1.95 percent to 10,954.

Northern Rock (LSE: NRK) had the worst performance by far on the 100, falling 31.46 percent to 438p after it had to ask the Bank of England for help after it could not find a place to borrow money from traditional sources and customers lined up outside branches of the bank to withdraw their money from accounts.

The trouble extended to other banks, with Alliance & Leicester (LSE: AL) dropping 6.88 percent to 873p.

Mortgage lenders were also hurt.

Paragon (LSE: PAG) was down 16.76 percent to 298p for the worst day on the 250.

It was followed by fellow mortgage lender Bradford & Bingley (LSE: BB), which was 7.7 percent lower to 329.75.

Homebuilders were also lower on the day.

Barratt Developments (LSE: BDEV) dropped 4.71 percent to 829p and Persimmon (LSE: PSN) was down 6.62 percent to £10.16 on the 250, while Bellway (LSE: BWY) fell 7.54 percent to £10.67 on the 100.

Oil-related shares saw gains on the 250.

Burren Energy (LSE: BUR) was up 1.79 percent to 853p, while Dana Petroleum (LSE: DNX) added 1.94 percent to £10 and JKX Oil & Gas (LSE: JKX) was 2.25 percent higher to 397.75p.

Gold miner Hochschild (LSE: HOC) had the best day on the 250 as it gained 3.83 percent to 345.25p.

Chemicals group Reckitt Benckiser (LSE: RB) was the best performer on the 100, adding 1.49 percent to £27.99.

Publisher Reed Elsevier (LSE: REL; Euronext: REN; NYSE: ENL; NYSE: RUK) was 1.08 percent higher to 608p, and DIY retailer Kingfisher (LSE: KFG) closed at 196.6p, a gain of 0.2 percent.

London’s equities markets were mixed Thursday.

While the FTSE 100 added 0.91 percent to 6,363.9, the FTSE 250 was down 0.42 percent to 11,172.4.

The biggest gainers on the session on the 100 were in the mining and telecommunications sectors.

Among miners BHP Billiton (LSE: BLT; NYSE: BHP; ASX: BHP) was 2.61 percent higher to £14.94 and Anglo American (LSE: AAL) gained 3.27 percent to €29.08, while Lonmin (LSE: LMI) added 3.66 percent to £34.26.

The mining gains came on higher base metals prices.

In the telecommunications sector, BT Group (LSE: BT.A; NYSE: BT) was up 2.9 percent to 319p, while Cable and Wireless (LSE: CW) was the best performer on the 100 with a gain of 4.5 percent to 174.3p.

The biggest winner on the 250 was in the financial services sector, where Ashmore (LSE: ASHM) added 6.48 percent to 263p.

Elsewhere in the sector, Bluebay (LSE: BBAY) was 2.98 percent higher to 380p.

Also gaining on the 250 were construction engineers Keller Group (LSE: KLR), up 3.92 percent to £10.88.

In the oil sector oil, gas and coal services group Petrofac (LSE: PFC) added 3.47 percent to 462p.

The worst performance on the 100 came from the banking sector, where Northern Rock (LSE: NRK) dropped 4.91 percent to 639p.

Still among banks, Alliance & Leicester (LSE: AL) was down 2.7 percent to 937.5p.

Property developer British Land (LSE: BLND) fell 1.88 percent to £12, while in the pharmaceuticals sector Shire was 2.5 percent lower to £12.46.

Sports retailer JJB Sports (LSE: JJB) dropped 4.37 percent to 164p, while human resources group STHREE (LSE: STHR) fell 5.34 percent to 323.5p.