The FTSE 100 had a good start to trading, opening higher and above the 5,100 mark after a slightly more volatile week, previously.

Oil & gas services company Petrofac (PFC.L) was the biggest riser in early trading (at 0903), rising by 4.7 per cent to 1,223p.

It was joined at the top by gold miner Randgold Resources (RRS.L) and Cairn Energy (CNE.L) who both rose by 3.1 per cent to 6,815p and 290.1p, respectively.

Oil giant BP (BP.L) saw its share price increase by 2.5 per cent to 399.45p, while Lloyds Banking Group (LLOY.L) rose 2.4 per cent to 29.06p.

The biggest fallers (at 0904) were engineer GKN (GKN.L) and Asia-focused bank Standard Chartered (STAN.L), which both fell 1 per cent to 181.7p and 1,349.5p, respectively.

Luxury goods company Burberry (BRBY.L) dropped 0.9 per cent to 1,195p, as life insurance consolidator Resolution (RSL.L) slipped 0.2 per cent to 255.2p and Essar Energy (ESSR.L) shaved 0.1 per cent from its share price, down to 257.5p.

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