STRONG trading on Wall Street and forecast-beating results from Prudential failed to kick-start the FTSE 100 Index amid more uncertain trading today.

Miners struggled for a second successive session, while the sight of Brent crude remaining at 113 US dollars a barrel added to market jitters.

The FTSE 100 Index, which has fluctuated in recent sessions, dropped 33.8 points to 5940.5, despite a rise of 1% for the Dow Jones Industrial Average and a reasonable performance from Asian markets.

Prudential topped the risers board after the insurer rebuilt bridges with investors by offering a 20% hike in its full-year dividend.

A 24% rise in operating profits to £1.94 billion came in ahead of market expectations as the Pru shook off memories of last year’s uproar over its botched Asian deal-making. Pru shares rose 3% or 23p to 737p.

Rolls-Royce followed with a rise of 16p to 616.5p after the engineering giant joined forces with Daimler to announce an offer worth 3.2 billion euros (£2.75 billion) for German industrial engines maker Tognum.

Rolls said the proposed transaction bolstered its position in a global market worth more than 30 billion euros a year.