The FTSE 100 Index failed to take inspiration from Apple's quarterly profits haul today with corporate results from other Wall Street giants offsetting the technology giant's record figures.
Microsoft, Caterpillar and Procter & Gamble disappointed traders meaning the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 1.5% in the previous session.
The Dow pared some of the losses in the latest session but early gains were muted, as they were in the City where the FTSE 100 closed 14.3 points higher at 6825.9. London's top-flight had fallen the day before to end an eight-session winning streak.
European markets were mixed with Germany's Dax ahead and France's Cac 40 in the red. Investors were continuing to digest the implications of the Greek election result while also looking towards the latest policy decision from the US Federal Reserve.
On currency markets, sterling was little changed, down slightly against the US dollar at just less than 1.52 and ahead against the euro at a little below 1.34.
The big corporate news of the day was Apple's quarterly profits haul of 18 billion US dollars (£11.9 billion), the biggest on record, which helped its shares rise 7%.
Apple, already the world's most valuable company, saw its market capitalisation rise to 680 billion US dollars (£448 billion).
In the FTSE 100, ARM Holdings, which provides the chip technology for many of Apple's products, benefited from the US giant's better-than-expected performance as its shares rose 2% or 18p to 1049p.
Severn Trent was also ahead, despite the company announcing it will cut its dividend this year in light of watchdog Ofwat's decision to reduce the utility's average household water bill.
Once the dividend has been reset, Severn has pledged to grow its shareholder pay-out by no less than RPI inflation until March 2020 and will also commence a £100 million share buy-back programme. Shares rose 19p to 2170p.
Among the fallers, sustainable technologies firm Johnson Matthey dropped 3% after it said the recent plunge in oil prices had affected investment decisions in the chemicals industry.
Third quarter sales rose 5% and the company said it was on track to deliver full-year results slightly ahead of last year, but shares still fell 112p to 3385p.
Other blue-chip fallers included Bradford-based supermarket chain Morrisons, which dropped 12.2p to 186.3p.
Elsewhere, shares in furniture retailer ScS, which operates 97 stores, got off to a strong start on the first day of dealings.
The stock stood at 189p, having opened at 175p after an offer of shares raised £35 million for the Sunderland-based company's private equity owners.
The biggest risers in the FTSE 100 Index were SABMiller up 158.5p to 3594.5p, Anglo American up 25p to 1115p, Dixons Carphone up 9.6p to 429p and Capita up 25p to 1118p.
The biggest fallers in the FTSE 100 Index were Morrisons down 12.2p to 186.3p, Standard Chartered down 36.7p to 905p, Tullow Oil down 13.1p to 357p and Johnson Matthey down 112p to 3385p.
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