London equities markets were higher on Thursday, with the FTSE 100 1.3 percent higher to 6,282.2 on a session where it saw all of its listed stocks finish in the black. The FTSE 250 was 1.1 percent higher to 11,221.5. Trade was brisk, with 4 billion shares trading hands.

Homebuilders were higher on mergers and acquisitions rumors. Wilson Bowden gained 0.6 percent to £23, while Redrow was 1.1 percent higher to 626½p and Barratt Developments added 2.3 percent to £12.09, amid talk that Barratt could be interested in Redrow if its bid for Wilson is not successful.

In the retail sector, supermarket J Sainsbury was up 2.6 percent to 445½p on the news that Lord Sainsbury of Turville reduced his stake to 13.9 percent by selling 40 million shares.

In the pharmaceuticals sector, AstraZeneca was up 2.2 percent to £29.03 after it outlined steps it would take in order to drive growth.

While no stocks on the 100 lost ground on the day, four did close even. Three of those, steelmaker Corus, at 601½p, tobacco company Gallaher, at £11.37, and Scottish Power, at 747p, are all in the middle of mergers and acquisitions activity. The fourth company to close steady was advertiser WPP, which also ended the session at 747p.

The FTSE 100 dropped 0.4 percent to 6,025.9 in London on Tuesday, ending lower for the sixth straight session and at its lowest level since the beginning of October. It has fallen 2.9 percent since its current decline began. On the other hand, the FTSE 250 was up slightly to 10,497.2.

Homebuilder Wilson Bowden was 3.7 percent higher on the session to £21.76 and Merrill Lynch raised its target share price to £24.50. Also helping the 250 was EMI; the music company added 10.4 percent to 289½p on the news that it has been approached.

The 100 was hurt by losses in the financial services sector, as Old Mutual dropped 5.8 percent to 166p on its third quarter earnings report.

Also seeing declines was ITV, which dropped 1.5 percent to 110¾p on the general opinion that the appointment of a new executive chairman makes any bids unlikely.

In the steel sector, Corus fell 0.3 percent to 498p on rumors that Tata Steel is thinking of increasing its bid. Meanwhile it put off a vote by shareholders to see if CSN of Brazil will up its offer.

Gainers on the session included tobacco company Gallaher, which added 1.7 percent to 952p on talk that Japan Tobacco might be interested. Also higher was yellow pages owner Yell, which was 2.3 percent higher to 570p on positive comments from Goldman Sachs.

In London on Monday, the FTSE 100 was 1.2 percent lower to 6,050.1, its lowest close since early October and its largest one day percentage decline since the end of September. Meanwhile, the FTSE 250 also declined, dropping 0.9 percent to 10,493.6.

The retail sector saw declines on slow sales for clothing retailers due to mild weather so far this autumn. Debenhams dropped 1 percent to 194p, while Next fell 2 percent to £17.94. Rumors have underlying sales at Next down by up to 20 percent year-on-year.

In the steel sector, Corus was 1 percent lower to 499½p on worries that pension fund trustees might hold up merger talks with CSN of Brazil. Elsewhere, concerns that the government of Saudi Arabia might pull out of deal to buy 72 Eurofighter planes sent BAE Systems down 3.1 percent to 391p/

The 250 was saved from further declines by advances in the homebuilders sector when Wilson Bowden gained 14.6 percent to £20.98 after it said it has received several takeover inquiries. The mid-caps index was also helped by the news that First Choice Holidays is talking about selling its package tour operations to My Travel. My Travel was 7.1 percent higher to 214p, while First Choice gained 12 percent to 257p.