The London market steadied below the 7000 mark today after riding the shockwave from America's disappointing GDP figures.
Despite positive corporate news, losses against some of the heaviest weighted stocks, such as miners, held back progress.
The top flight lost more than 150 points in the previous two sessions and was down by another 40 points at one stage before recovering slightly to stand 14.4 points higher at 6960.6.
The trading uncertainty follows the weaker-than-expected US GDP result of just 0.2% for the three months to the end of March, compared with forecasts for annualised growth of 1%.
The pound strengthened against the US dollar yesterday but was a cent down against the greenback at just under 1.54 during subdued trading today. Sterling was two cent lower against the euro at 1.37.
Royal Bank of Scotland was among the heavy fallers after it reported a loss of £446 million for the first quarter of the year.
The lender, which is 80% state-owned, went into the red as it set aside hundreds of millions of pounds to settle a US investigation over the foreign exchange rigging scandal as well as other past misconduct.
Shares were 3% down, knocking about £600 million off the market value of the bank. This was despite a 16% improvement in underlying profits as it benefits from "generally benign credit conditions". Shares were down 11p at 338.5p.
British Airways owner International Airlines Group was another heavy faller despite reporting its first profit in the post-Christmas quarter since its acquisition of Spain's Iberia in 2011.
The airline expects to generate an operating profit in excess of 2.2 billion euros (£1.6 billion) this year but warned that the rate of profit improvement in this quarter will be slower due to fuel prices and the timing of Easter.
Shares dipped 14p to 545p.
Royal Mail was the biggest riser in the FTSE 100 Index after Netherlands-based PostNL said it had ended talks with a joint venture partner over plans to expand its Whistl subsidiary in the UK.
The end-to-end postal delivery service would have been a direct competitor to Royal Mail, whose shares rose 23.5p to 467.7p - a gain of more than 5%.
In the FTSE 250 Index, Zoopla shares jumped 15% after it announced a surprise deal to buy online energy price comparison firm uSwitch for up to £190 million.
Zoopla, which owns websites including PrimeLocation and HomesOverseas, said the deal creates a single business where "consumers can research, find and manage their homes".
Investors liked the plan as the stock jumped 30p to 215p.
The biggest risers on the FTSE 100 Index were Royal Mail up 23.5p at 467.7p, Sports Direct International up 14.5p at 619p, Weir Group up 44p at 1880p and Associated British Foods up 66p at 2857p.
The biggest fallers on the FTSE 100 Index were Centrica down 12.2p at 255.4p, ITV down 9.9p at 253.6p, Royal Bank of Scotland down 11p at 338.5p and Anglo American down 33.5p at 1105p.
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