Leading shares have dipped into negative territory following yet another sign of economic weakness in the US.
The Philadelphia Fed index showed worse-than-expected business conditions in the US mid-Atlantic region, helping push the Dow Jones Industrial Average down around 20 points. The FTSE 100 has gone into reverse as a result, down 23.8 points at 5733.1. Neither index is showing a convincing move in either direction, so there is still plenty of scope for more volatility before the close of play.
Mining group Anglo American added 116p to £35.15 on hopes that Brazil's Vale - which has been giving more and more hints it is on the lookout for an acquisition - was interested in the company. Vale plans a share offering of $15bn, and a Brazilian newspaper today reported it had lined up a team of banks to provide funding for any deal.
Speaking of deals, publishing group Informa has climbed 8p to 437p as private equity groups Providence Equity Partners and Carlyle Group confirmed they had made a bid approach to the company, which recently called off merger talks with United Business Media.
