A mixed picture from the US economy has taken the shine off the FTSE 100, and its attempts to top 6000.
US jobless claims were barely changed last month and durable goods orders fell 1.3%, but on the other hand consumer spending rose for a fifth straight month.
US futures - which had originally suggested an unchanged opening on Wall Street - are now indicated a 15 point decline on the Dow Jones Industrial Average.
Here the FTSE 100, after edging tantalisingly close to 6000, dipped into negative territory after the US numbers but has now edged back up 2.22 points to 5985.71. It's touch and go whether it passes the milestone level today. But there's always tomorrow's half day of trading, which is likely to be even quieter than today.
