London's FTSE100 made a poor start even though there were new records overnight in the US for both the S&P 500 and Dow Jones indices.
China's new aggressive stimulus measures gave the US markets a boost and miners were leading the risers in the UK again today, through early Footsie was down 23 at 8,259.
Rentokil was also a riser as a representative of activist investor Nelson Peltz's Trian Fund Management joined the board after its profit warning earlier this month.
DFS Furniture swung to a loss for its latest year but noted that improving house market conditions and growing incomes should aid a recovery ahead. Revenues fell 9% which DFS attributed to Red Sea shipping delays late in the year and lacklustre demand.
Online estate agent Rightmove meanwhile has rejected a third offer from Rupert Murdoch's REA Group, adding it "continues to be unattractive and materially undervalues the company.”