( AFP ) - The leading share index closed in positive territory after a volatile trading trading, dealers said Friday.
The FTSE 100 index finished 32.8 points higher at 6,397.0, down from a session high of 6,426.2 but having rallied from a nadir of 6,336.7.
Trading volumnes were weak with 2.057 billion shares changing hands in 683,147 deals.
CMC Markets dealer Jimmy Yates told Thompson Financial News: "It's been a choppy day for the London index as traders continue to try and assess where true value actually lies".
Embattled mortgage lender Northern Rock was the top FTSE 100 riser, up 5.9 pence -- or 6.86 percent -- to 91.9 as the Financial Times reported that the Olivant private equity group has been persuaded to stay in the auction for the stricken bank after gaining reassurance it will be treated on equal footing to a rival bid by Virgin Group.
Rexam was also in demand, up 15 pence -- or 3.67 percent -- at 424.
The packaging giant ended the session as the second sharpest riser after reversing Thursday's losses which were triggered by an announcement that a weak dollar and high oil prices would affect profits.
On the downside, the mining sector fell back after a negative review from Goldman Sachs, which cut its stance on the sector in Europe, Middle East and Africa to 'neutral' from 'attractive'.
In the review, the broker also downgraded its rating for Vedanta Resources to 'sell' from 'neutral', and cuts its target prices for Lonmin.
As a result, Vedanta shares lost 30 pence at 2,019, with Lonmin down 73 pence at 3,029.
Copper miner Antofagasta topped the blue-chip loserboard, down 31.50 pence -- or 4.29 percent -- to 702-1/2.
Anglo-American was the second biggest casualty after it shed 108 pence -- or 3.40 percent -- to close at 3,072.
Vodafone remained the most-traded issue as investors exchanged 116 million shares in the telecom giant.
Royal Bank of Scotland was the second most popular issue after 50.6 million shares changed hands.