London equities markets were up on Tuesday, but just barely, with the FTSE 100 adding 0.08 percent to 5,918.7 and the FTSE 250 gaining 0.01 percent to 9,761 in a late rally that brought both indices up from earlier declines. Volume was a bit higher at 2.8 billion shares trading hands during the session.

The oil sector was helped higher on the day by bid rumors. Royal Dutch Shell was said to be interested in bidding for both BG Group, which added 0.9 percent to 690½p, and for Premier Oil, which ended the session 2.1 percent higher to £10.65. Royal Dutch Shell itself gained 0.1 percent to £18.96.

Utilities ended the session lower, with the exception of Centrica, which owns British Gas. Centrica added 1.9 percent to 308¼p even though Gazprom denied rumors that it was interested in making a bid. Vattenfall has also been said to be interested. Elsewhere in the sector, Scottish & Southern dropped 0.4 percent to £12.21, while Scottish Power was 0.5 percent lower to 625½p and United Utilities fell 0.7 percent to 685½p.

In the retail sector, Next was 0.6 percent higher to £16.67 after Man Securities recommended that its clients buy on the strength of a prediction that margins will increase even if sales decline. Meanwhile, DSG International gained 0.9 percent to 209¾p on positive comments from Merrill Lynch.

Among miners, Kazakhmys added 3.4 percent to £13.31 on a repot that its half-year report will show operating profits up by 121 percent.

Both the FTSE 100 and the FTSE 250 were lower in London on Tuesday as the online gaming sector saw further losses. Also affecting investor sentiment was a report that inflation in the UK was up more than had been expected, which could in turn lead to a hike in interest rates from the Bank of England.

The 100 was 0.3 percent lower on the session to 5,681.7, bringing its losses to 3 percent in the past four days. Meanwhile, the 250 dropped 0.5 percent to 8,968.8.

The utilities sector had a good day, however. Kelda Group gained 4.2 percent to 844p on bids rumors. Kelda has added 7.1 percent in three sessions. Severn Trent was up 2.2 percent to £12.21, while Pennon Group advanced by 2.1 percent to £13.99. United Utilities added 1.7 percent to 637p on an upgrade to “buy” from Dresdner Kleinwort. Scottish & Southern was up 1.6 percent to £11.66.

Also seeing an advance was British American Tobacco, up 1.5 percent to £13.70 on a “buy” recommendation from JP Morgan.

BSkyB was down 4.3 percent to 517½p as investors worried about the satellite broadcaster’s plan to spend £400 million on its new broadband offering.

The online gaming sector was hit hard by the news that a grand jury in the United States had field charges against BetOnSports. Traing in BetOnSports shares was suspended at 122½p. 888 Holdings dropped 12.7 percent to 168½p, while PartyGaming fell 17.2 percent to 85¼p, SportingBet declined 35.5 percent to 182p, and World Gaming was down 38 percent to 69½p.

The FTSE 100 was up by 0.5 percent to 5,678.6 in London on Wednesday as the oil sector saw gains as crude oil prices were up again. The FTSE 250, however, dropped slightly to 9,197.2. Trade volumes remained below average, with only 2.4 billion shares changing hands.

BP added 0.9 percent to 618½p, BG Group was up 1.2 percent to 707p, and Royal Dutch Shell gained 1.4 percent to £18.41. Merrill Lynch confirmed its “overweight” rating for the sector as a whole.

PartyGaming dropped 2.1 percent to 113½p. Analysts believe that the drop is due to selling of the internet gaming company’s stock, which they bought earlier this month when four of PartyGaming’s founders sold 5 percent of the company.

In the media sector, EMI added 8.4 percent to 307½p on the news that it has turned down an offer worth 320p per share from Warner Music.

Corus Steel added 1.3 percent to 434p amid rumors that it has received a bid from either Severstal of Russia or Tata Steel of India. Earlier in the week, Severstal failed to completel a deal with Arcelor.

In the utilities sector, Severn Trent dropped 3.1 percent to £11.35 and United Utilities fell 3.3 percent to 630p.