London’s markets were lower again on Friday.

The FTSE 100 dropped 1.23 percent to 6,527.9 while FTSE 250 fell 0.98 percent to 11,299.3.

Insurer Resolution (LSE: RSL) had the best day on the 100 as it gained 2.12 percnet to 722p.

Housebuilders and the construction sector more generally were higher on both the 100 and the 250.

Persimmon (LSE: PSN) was up 1.15 percent to 971p and Barratt Developments (LSE: BDEV) was 1.29 percent higher to 667p on the 100, while over on the 250 house builder Redrow (LSE: RDW) gained 3.03 percent to 383p and construction group Alfred McAlpine (LSE: MCA) added 3.54 percent to 555p.

Other gainers included paper group DS Smith (LSE: SMPS), which was up 5.31 percent to 228p on the 250.

Brewer Scottish & Newcastle (LSE: SCTN) was 1.19 percent higher to 766.5p on the 100.

Banks were lower, with Northern Rock (LSE: NRK) again leading the losers on the 100 with a decline of 8.61 percent to 186.9p.

Elsewhere in the sector, HBOS (LSE: HBOS) dropped 2.91 percent to 835p.

In the pharmaceuticals sector Astra Zeneca (LSE: AZN; NYSE: AZN) was down 3.64 percent to £24.61 after the revocation of an inhaler patent by European authorities and a downgrade from “neutral” to “sell” by UBS.

Advertising group WPP (LSE: WPP; NAS: WPPGY) fell 4.18 percent to 665p after it reported quarterly revenues that were at the low end of expectations.

In London the FTSE 100 added 0.09 percent to 6,730.7, but the FTSE 250 dropped 0.4 percent to 11,576.3.

Northern Rock moved back into the gainers column with the best day on the 100, adding 5.91 percent to 273.25p on the possibility that Virgin Group is looking at a rescue of the troubled bank.

The oil sector was mixed on the session.

Dana Petroleum (LSE: DNX) was 3.66 percent higher to £13.04 and BP (LSE: BP; NYSE: BP; TYO: 5051) was up 4.3 percent to 619p, but Hunting (LSE: HTG) dropped 3.58 percent to 755p.

Online price comparison site Moneysupermarket.com (LSE: MONY) led the 250 with a gain of 4.8 percent to 191p.

The biggest loser on the 250 was holding company Rank Group (LSE: RNK), which fell 21.38 percent to 125p on the session.

House builders were still feeling the pain of Thursday’s new data showing that home prices fell again in September.

Persimmon (LSE: PSN) was 2.69 percent lower to 976p, while Barratt Developments (LSE: BDEV) was down 3.19 percent to 699p and Taylor Wimpey (LSE: TW) dropped 3.27 percent to 281.25p.

In London on Thursday, the FTSE 100 was 1.38 percent higher to 6,724.5 while the FTSE 250 gained 0.96 percent to 11,622.9.

Commodities-related shares were higher on the session.

Vedanta Resources (LSE: VED) had the best day on the 100 as it added 5.8 percent to £23.17, while oil refiner and distributor Hunting (LSE: HTG) was the best performer on the 250 with a gain of 10.28 percent to 783p.

Elsewhere among miners, gold miner Randgold (LSE: RSS; NAS: GOLD) was 7.43 percent higher to £17.35 and Aquarius Platinum (LSE: AQP; ASX: AQP; JSE: AQP) jumped 9.42 percent to £18.47.

Back in the oil sector, Tullow Oil (LSE: TLW; OTC: TUWLY) was up 4.68 percent to 626.5p, while BG Group (LSE: BG; NYSE: BG) added 4.74 percent to 883p.

Among banks, Northern Rock (LSE: NRK) slipped again, dropping 5.67 percent to 258p for the worst performance of the session on the 100.

Meanwhile, the house building sector and property developers had a bad day after the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors reported that house prices were lower in the UK again in September.

Bovis Homes (LSE: BVS) was down 2.56 percent to 684p and Bellway (LSE: BWY) dropped 2.89 percent to £10.76.

Barratt Developments (LSE: BDEV) was 3.54 percent lower to 722p, Persimmon (LSE: PSN) fell 4.02 percent to £10.03 and Redrow (LSE: RDW) was down 4.31 percent to 388.5p.

Taylor Wimpey (LSE: TW) fell 4.28 percent to 290.75p.

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.

In London on Tuesday, the FTSE 100 gained 0.98 percent to 6,376.8 while the FTSE 250 was 1.34 percent higher to 11,510.8.

Both indices were led by the oil sector. Royal Dutch Shell’s (LSE: RDSA, RDSB; NYSE RDS.A, RDS.B) A and B shares took the top two places on the 100, with B shares adding 2.9 percent to £19.85 and A shares gaining 3.02 percent to £19.79 after UBS (NYSE: UBS; SWX: UBSN; TYO: 8657) raised its recommendation on the oil group from “neutral“ to “buy“.

BG Group also did well with its shares 2.43 percent higher to 800.5p.

On the 250, Tullow Oil (LSE: TLW; OTC: TUWLY) was up 6.63 percent to 547p.

Meanwhile, SOCO International (LSE: SIA) added 7.34 percent to £21.65 for the best day on the 250.

Other gainers included miner Kazakhmys (LSE: KAZ), which was up 2.62 percent to £13.33 on the news that profits were up 22 percent in the first half of the year.

In the retail sector, Home Retail (LSE: HOME) gained 2.63 percent to 429.5p.

The biggest loser on the day on the 100 was in the banking sector, with Northern Rock (LSE: NRK) falling 1.21 percent to 732p.

Bakery goods retailer Greggs (LSE: GRG) dropped 4.46 £50.50 for the worst performance on the 250.

Property-related groups saw declines on the day.

Home builder Persimmon (LSE: PSN) was 0.95 percent lower to £11.46, while property investor Liberty International (LSE: LII) fell 1.17 percent to £11.83.

In the pharmaceuticals sector, Shire (LSE: SHP; NAS: SHPGY) dropped 1.15 percent to £12.95.

London equities markets saw gains Friday.

The FTSE 100 was 1.47 percent higher to 6,303.3 and the FTSE 250 was up 1.89 percent to 11,309.2.

Miners were higher as metals prices advanced.

Vedanta Resources had the best day on the 100, adding 4.38 percent to £17.63.

Rio Tinto (LSE: RIO; ASX: RIO) was right behind with a gain of 3.72 percent to £34.30 after it gained approval from the Canadian government to proceed with its takeover of Alcan (TSX: AL; NYSE: AL).

Other gainers on the 100 included Imperial Tobacco (LSE: IMT), which added 3.22 percent to £22.41.

Supermarket chain Wm Morrison (LSE: MRW) gained 3.15 percent to 286.25p, while food processor Tate & Lyle (LSE: TATE) was 3.11 percent higher to 564.5p.

Engineering group Melrose (LSE: MRO) was the best performer on the 250, adding 9.97 percent to 190.25p.

Consumer goods retailer Home Retail (LSE: HOME) had the worst day on the 100, dropping 1.07 percent to 414.25p, while publisher Euromoney Institutional Investor (LSE: ERM) saw the biggest decline on the 250, falling 4.34 percent to 540p.

Also on the 250, auto sales group Pendragon (LSE: PDG) dropped 2.26 percent to 75.75p, while builder John Wood Group (LSE: WG.) fell 1.09 percent to 361.5p.

Back on the 100, non-voting shares in investment manager Schorders (LSE: SDRt.L) were 0.26 percent lower to £11.43, while house builder Persimmon (LSE: PSN) dropped 0.52 percent to £11.57 and pubs operator Mitchells and Butlers (LSE: MAB) was down 0.77 percent to 712.5p.

In London on Wednesday, the FTSE 100 was up 0.49 percent to 6,132.2 and the FTSE 250 added 0.91 percent to 10,891.9.

Hotels and restaurants operator Whitbread (LSE: WTB) had the best day on the 100 as it added 3.47 percent to £16.12.

The gains came on news that revenues were up 6.6 percent in the six months ending 16 August and were 8 percent higher in its fiscal second quarter.

Water utilities were right behind. Severn Trent (LSE: SVT) was 2.84 percent higher to £13.42, while Kelda Group (LSE: KEL) added 3.15 percent to 852p.

Insurers were mixed, however, with Standard Life (LSE: SLET) up 2.11 percent to 290p but Aviva (LSE: AV) down 0.99 percent to 698p.

Property developers and house builders were down on the session. Barratt Developments (LSE: BDEV) fell 0.66 percent to 905p, while Persimmon dropped 0.77 percent to £11.55.

Beverage can manufacturer Rexam (LSE: REX), down 1.35 percent to 511p had the worst day on the 100.

The worst performer on the 250 was in the financial services sector, where Bluebay (LSE: BBAY) was 4.76 percent lower to 395p.

PartyGaming (LSE: PRTY) had the best day on the 250, where it gained 23.08 percent to 28p after a more than 7 percent decline Tuesday.

London’s markets were higher Thursday, although the FTSE 100 only managed a gain of 0.01 percent to 6,196.9.

The FTSE 250, meanwhile, added 0.32 percent to 10,945.7.

Property developers and house builders had a bad day on the 100.

House builder Persimmon dropped 2.30 percent to £12.23 after ABN Amro (Euronext: AAB; NYSE: ABN) reduced its target share price from £17.20 to £15.30.

Among developers, British Land (LSE: BLND) fell 2.18 percent to £12.58 while SEGRO (LSE: SGRO) was 2.4 percent lower to 529p.

Hammerson (LSE: HMSO) was the worst performer on the 100, dropping 2.45 percent to £12.75.

However, in a related sector WSP Group (LSE: WSH), which specializes in construction management, engineering, and consulting, added 3.13 percent to 676.5p.

Brewer SABMiller (LSE: SAB) was 2.78 percent higher to £12.94.

Investment manager Schroders (LSE: SDR.L) had the best day on the 100 with a gain of 4.22 percent to £13.34, while its non-voting shares (LSE: SDRt.L) added 3.32 percent to £11.53.

Among banks, Northern Rock (LSE: NRK) was up 3.98 percent to 757p.

Other banks seeing gains included Alliance & Leicester (LSE: AL), which added 0.19 percent to £10.61. Lloyds TSB (LSE: LLOY) gained 0.27 percent to 553.5p, while HBOS (LSE: HBOS) was 2.05 percent higher to 898p.