London saw gains on Friday on advances in the oil and mining sectors.

The FTSE 100 was 1.29 percent higher to 6,661.3 and the FTSE 250 was up 0.25 percent to 11,509.6.

Record-high oil prices sent the oil sector higher.

BP (LSE: BP; NYSE: BP; TYO: 5051) gained 2.69 percent to 629p, while Royal Dutch Shell’s (LSE: RDSA, RDSB; NYSE: RDS.A, RDS.B) A shares added 2.95 percent to £21.28 and its B shares jumped 3.01 percent to £21.21.

Meanwhile in the mining sector, Antofagasta (LSE: ANTO) was up 3.85 percent to 849.5p, while Rio Tinto (LSE: RIO) was 4.3 percent higher to £44.17 and Xstrata (LSE: XTA) gained 5.6 percent to £35.28.

Retailers took the top spots among both winners and losers on the 100.

Do-it-yourself retailer Kingfisher (LSE: KFG) added 7.05 percent to 185.3p on takeover rumors, while supermarket chain J Sainsbury (LSE: SBRY) dropped 3.17 percent to 565.5p on the news that a possible bidder is trying to raise enough money for the bid.

Electricity and natural gas utility Centrica (LSE: CAN) was 2.21 percent lower to 364.25p, while electricity generator British Energy (LSE: BGY) fell 1.82 percent to 538p.

Over on the 250, internet price comparison sites were mixed. Moneysupermarket.com (LSE: MONY) added 3.85 percent to 202.25p, but property search website Rightmove (LSE RMV) dropped 4.76 percent to 600p.

In London on Monday the FTSE 100 fell 1.05 percent to 6,459.3 and the FTSE 250 dropped 1.07 percent to 11,177.9.

The biggest loser on the 100 was British Energy Group (LSE: BGY), which fell 8.12 percent to 532p on the news that two nuclear generators will be out of service longer than previously anticipated after new problems there.

Banks were lower.

Lloyds TSB (LSE: LLOY) was 1.2 percent lower to 530p, while Barclays Bank (LSE: BARC; NYSE: BCS; TYO: 8642) was down 1.6 percent to 580p and Royal Bank of Scotland (LSE: RBS; NYSE: RBS PRM) dropped 1.7 percent to 502p.

Miners fell after base metals prices dropped.

BHP Billiton (LSE: BLT; ASX: BHP; NYSE: BHP) was down 3.9 percent to £17.64 and Vedanta Resources (LSE: VED) was 5.04 percent lower to £20.54, while Xstrata (LSE: XTA) also fell 5.04 percent to £36.20 and Kazakhmys (LSE: KAZ) dropped 5.15 percent to €14.55.

With crude oil prices also lower, Tullow Oil was down 5.79 percent to 585.5p.

Among gainers on the day, supermarket chain Wm Morrison (LSE: MRW) was up 1.62 percent to 297.25p while elsewhere in the retail sector Home Retail (LSE: HOME) added 1.81 percent to 380p.

Cruise line operator Carnival (LSE: CCL; NYSE: CCL) gained 1.61 percent to £22.68.

London’s markets were down on Monday.

The FTSE 100 was 0.83 percent lower to 6,540.9 while the FTSE 250 was 0.54 percent lower to 11,328.7.

Northern Rock (LSE: NRK) gained 8.83 percent to 172.5p for the best performance on the 100, on a Sunday Times report that Citibank (NYSE: C) could lend the bank £10 billion.

But Alliance & Leicester (LSE: AL) was lower, falling 2.64 percent to 773p.

Carpet and floor retailer Carpetright (LSE: CPR) had the best day on the 250, adding 4.13 percent to £11.61.

Brewer and pubs operator Marston’s (LSE: MARS) was the biggest loser on the 250, dropping 5.51 percent to 347.25, but brewer Scottish & Newcastle (LSE: SCTN) gained 2.05 percent to 622p on takeover speculation.

Miners were lower on the 100.

Xstrata (LSE: XTA) was down 3.25 percent to £32.12 and Vedanta Resources was 4.31 percent lower to £20.86, while Kazakhmys (LSE: KAZ) fell the most on the 100, down 5.89 percent to £15.02 on the news that copper cathode production is expected to fall.

Property developers and investors were lower.

British Land (LSE: BLND) dropped 2.85 percent to £10.92, while Minerva (LSE: MNR) fell 4.62 percent to 232.25p.

Mortgage lender Bradford & Bingley (LSE: BB) was down 5.18 percent to 270.25p.

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 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.

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.

The London equities markets saw strong gains Tuesday as the FTSE 100 added 1.93 percent to 6,308.8 and the FTSE 250 gained 2.15 percent to 11,235.2.

There were only two losers on the FTSE 100 on the session.

Food processor Tate & Lyle (LSE: TATE) was 0.54 percent lower to 558.5p, while miner Xstrata (LSE: XTA) fell 1.36 percent to £28.72 even though it said earnings were up 22 percent in the first half after it also made a $1 billion bid for South Africa’s Eland Platinum (JSE: ELD).

Human resources company Capita Group had the best day on the 100 as it added 5.71 percent to 748.5p.

Property investors did well on both the 100 and 250.

Hammerson (LSE: HMSO) was up 4.51 percent to £12.24, while Liberty International (LSE: LII) gained 4.64 percent to £10.61 on the 100 and Minerva jumped 9.01 percent to 278.25p on the 250.

Consulting engineers Mouchel Parkman (LSE: MCHL) had the best day on the 250, gaining 17.95 percent to 418.5p.

Other gainers on the session included telecommunications group Vodafone (LSE: VOD; NYSE: VOD; FWB: VOD), which added 4.91 percent to 159.4p.

In the banking sector, Standard Chartered gained 5.03 percent to £16.38.

The biggest decliner on the day on the 250 was Millennium & Copthorne Hotels (LSE: MLC), with a drop of 10.55 percent to 518p.

London’s equities markets were lower Wednesday.

The FTSE 100 dropped 1.72 percent to 6,250.6, while the FTSE 250 fell 1.26 percent to 11,194.9.

Cadbury Schweppes (LSE: CBRY; NYSE: CSG), with a decline of 8.23 percent to 569p, was the worst performer on the 100 after it
said that profitability was down in the first half due to higher dairy prices.

British Airways (LSE: BAY; NYSE: BAB) was down 2.89 percent to 386.25p after it was fined nearly £270 million for price fixing activities in relation to fuel surcharges.

Miners were substantially lower. Lonmin (LSE: LMI) fell 3.65 percent to £33.76, while Xstrata (LSE: XTA) was 3.88 percent lower to £30.74, BHP Billiton (LSE: BLT; NYSE: BHP; ASX: BHP) dropped 4.41 percent to £14.08 and Rio Tinto (LSE: RIO) was down 4.46 percent to £34.45.

There were gains on the day.

In the pharmaceuticals sector, Shire (LSE: SHP; NAS: SHPGY) added 1.56 percent to £12.37, while chemicals group Imperial Chemical Industries (LSE: ICI) gained 0.56 percent to 627.5p on reports that Dow Chemical (NYSE: DOW; TYO: 4850) is interested in making a bid to rival that of Akzo Nobel (Euronext: AKZ; NAS: AKZOY).

Over on the 250, construction group John Wood Group (LSE: WG.) was the best performer, adding 4.61 percent to 340.5p.

Meanwhile, business services provider Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group (LSE: JLT) was the biggest loser of the session as it dropped 11.48 percent to 374p.

The FTSE 100 dropped 0.28 percent to 6,697.7 in London on Monday, while the FTSE 250 was 0.05 percent lower to 11,917.3.

The mining and oil sectors were lower in London.

Platinum miner Lonmin (LSE: LMI) dropped 6.85 percent to £39.85 for the worst performance of the session on the FTSE 100 after it issued a disappointing trading statement, saying that sales will be lower for the next year.

The announcement prompted a downgrade from Citigroup (NYSE: C).

Xstrata (LSE: XTA) was also lower, falling 1.78 percent to £33.61.

In the oil sector, Royal Dutch Shell’s (LSE: RDSA, RDSB; NYSE: RDS.A, RDS.B) A shares were 1.59 percent lower to £20.40.

BG Group (LSE: BG; NSYE: BG) was also lower, dropping 2.34 percent to 857p.

On the FTSE 250, Premier Oil (LSE: PMO) fell 2.57 percent to £11.75, while Burren Energy (LSE: BUR) was down 2.79 percent to 853.5p.

Back on the 100, SEGRO (LSE: SLOU), the rebrand of property development group Slough Estates, fell 2.04 percent to 599p.

Top gainers on the 100 covered several sectors, with bank Alliance & Leicester (LSE: AL) doing the best as it added 2.49 percent to £11.52.

Publisher Reed Elsevier (LSE: REL; Euronext: REN; NSYE: ENL; NYSE: RUK) was 1.66 percent higher to 675p, while in the pharmaceuticals sector, GlaxoSmithKline gained 1.63 percent to £13.10 on an upgrade from “underweight” to “neutral” from JP Morgan (NYSE: JPM; TYO: 8634).

London equities markets were up on Thursday, with the FTSE 100 added 1.25 percent to 6,697.7 and the FTSE 250 gained 1.22 percent to 11,809.

Most miners were higher on the session, but the sector managed to provide both the biggest winner and the worst performer on the 100.

Vedanta Resources (LSE: VED) added 6.45 percent to £18.00, while Rio Tinto (LSE: RIO) was 4.58 percent lower to £38.10.

Rio Tinto’s decline came after it put in a bid for Canadian aluminium producer Alcan (TSX: AL; NYSE: AL) and after Standard & Poor‘s announced that it would take a look at Rio Tinto‘s credit rating if the deal was completed.

Elsewhere in the sector, Xstrata (LSE: XTA) was 4.67 percent higher to £34.27 and Antofagasta (LSE: ANTO) added 6.39 percent to 715.5p.

The best performance on the 250 came from oil refiner Hunting (LSE: HTG), which gained 8.01 percent to 842.5p.

Other gainers on the 100 included British Airways (LSE: BAY; NYSE: BAB), which was 5.26 percent higher to 440.5p.

Hedge fund Man Group (LSE: EMG) added 4.05 percent to 616.5. Public transport company Arriva (LSE: ARI) was the worst performer on the 250 as it dropped 4.09 percent to 751p.

Other decliners on the 100 included Whitbread (LSE: WTB); the leisure services group fell 2.47 percent to £18.98.

Property developer Hammerson (LSE: HMSO) was 0.88 percent lower to £13.55.