At the open: FTSE 100 clinging on, as markets look ahead to European Central Bank (ECB) interest rate and quantitative easing decision
The FTSE 100 popped, dropped then levelled off this morning, to stand down 0.06 per cent at 6,406 in the first minutes of Thursday trading.
Miners started on the up after Brent Crude smashed through the $45 a barrel mark last night and held on this morning to clock in for the day at $45.84 – its highest level in five months.
BHP Billiton was the biggest mover, up 2.76 per cent to cross the £10-a-share mark – a slice of the company was changing hands for 1,024p this morning. Rio Tinto, up 1.4 per cent, and bankers HSBC and Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) were all hot on Anglo's tails.
Read more: Before the open – today's agenda
Ahead of a potentially bumpy annual general meeting (AGM) later today, Anglo American jumped but then slumped by 0.03 per cent to 791p a share.
Markets across Europe, however, were in wait-and-see mode as the look to a bumper day of fresh data. The German Dax was up 0.29 per cent and the French Cac added just 0.09 per cent.
UK retail sales figures, public sector finances, a monetary policy decision in the Eurozone, a press conference from Mario Draghi and a speech from Mark Carney should be more than enough to set up a topsy-turvy day in London and Europe.