FTSE

After 12 turbulent months for equity markets, top industry managers believe the worse is now behind them regarding dividend cuts

Fidelity European Values has attributed the company's underperformance to its defensive stance last year.

World stock markets rose after midday on better-than-expected US jobs data.

The FTSE opened higher this morning at 5,555.68, up 28.52 (0.52%), following gains in Asia and the United States overnight.

Financials rose this morning, but could not prevent the FTSE falling 0.2%, or 8.8 points to 5475.28.

Miners continue to lead the FTSE 100 into positive territory after rising copper prices led to a strong showing yesterday.

Mining shares helped the FTSE 100 jump more than 56.81 points (1.1%) to 5,411.33 in early trading after copper prices hit a five-week high following the earthquake in Chile.

The FTSE has risen by 0.5%, or 27.8 points to 5342.92 today, buoyed by unexpectedly cheery news for banks.

The FTSE opened marginally higher this morning, rising by 18.7 points, or 0.4%, to 5333.79.

The FTSE opened more than 30 points higher Tuesday thanks in part to an 11% share price jump for builders' supplier Wolseley.