Ben Critchley

London shares closed little changed on Tuesday with attention focused on the Federal Reserve's upcoming meeting, though the fashion sector reeled after a profits warning from Burberry, dealers said.

London shares closed lower amid growing investor anxiety ahead of an upcoming speech by US Federal Reserve board chairman Ben Bernanke, dealers said.

Stocks in London were virtually unchanged on Thursday, with the FTSE 100 index of top companies closing at 5,776.6 points.

London shares closed lower ahead of a eurozone finance ministers' meeting tonight and amid anxiety about the US second quarter earnings season starting this week, traders said.

Shares in London rose at the end of trade Wednesday on hopes that EU leaders would work out a way to solve the eurozone debt crisis.

The FTSE 100 index closed down on Tuesday with a loss of 1.78 percent at 5,554.55 points amid increased uncertainty following weekend elections in France and especially in Greece.

Europe's main stock markets dipped on Tuesday as investors took profits from recent bumper gains and waited on the latest raft of economic data in the United States, dealers said.

Europe's main stock markets fell on Tuesday, mirroring fresh losses in Asia, with the mining sector hurt by a warning that Chinese demand for iron ore may be slowing, analysts said.

European equities mostly rose on Thursday, with London supported by news that Lloyds bank will axe 15,000 more jobs and that the London Stock Exchange is once more a likely takeover target.

Europe's main stock markets traded mixed on Thursday as investors awaited vital US economic growth data, while London's mining sector was boosted by rising commodity prices.

London shares closed modestly higher on Tuesday amid bargain hunting, recovering some of the ground lost in Monday's sharp fall.

European stock markets rebounded Tuesday on bargain hunting after a slump triggered by Standard & Poor's first ever downgrade of its US sovereign debt outlook.

European stock markets slid Tuesday in the absence of risky trades amid concerns over the strength of the world's top economies.

Asia-focused banking giant HSBC said Monday that its net profit more than doubled to $13.16 billion (9.56 billion euros) last year as bad debts plunged to the lowest level since 2006.

Global markets jittery ahead of US jobs data following Fed-fuelld gains. European stock markets traded lower Friday ahead of key U.S. jobs data, following a big stock market rally around the world in the wake of the Federal Reserve's decision to pump $600 billion into newly-created money the U.S. economy.

China manufacturing data lifts stocks as Fed policy statement looms. World stock markets rose modestly Monday following a fairly strong Chinese manufacturing survey ? but trading was subdued as investors waited to see how much additional monetary easing the Federal Reserve might deliver at its meeting later this week.

Europe confronted ominous new bond market pressures on Tuesday and braced for massive public protests against spending cuts, dampening the economic landscape despite signs of strength in Germany and Britain.

World markets recovered most of their losses Tuesday as corporate dealmaking helped some investors look past Europe's government debt problems and uncertain prospects for U.S. economic growth.

Europe confronted ominous new bond market pressures on Tuesday and braced for massive public protests against spending cuts, dampening the economic landscape despite signs of strength in Germany and Britain.

Europe's main stock markets sagged on Friday as news of upbeat German business confidence was offset by lingering concerns about a global economic slowdown.