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The FTSE 100 closed down 6.04 points at 7,416.39 on Wednesday as investors continued to mark time until Friday's G20 summit.
Sentiment was not helped by attempts by the US Federal Reserve to temper expectations for rate cuts. By 4.30pm UK time the S&P 500 was modestly higher at 2,921.74.
LARGE AND MID CAP RISERS AND FALLERS
Train and bus company Stagecoach gained 2.7% after it posted a 63% slide in annual profit, owing to losses associated with the disposal of its North American business.
Services company Wood Group rose 6.5% as it announced that it had grown its earnings in the first half, thanks to an improvement in margins.
Distribution and outsourcing company Bunzl shed 1.7% despite it forecasting expected first-half revenues to rise 4%, while keeping its outlook unchanged.
Tullow Oil added 2.7% after guiding for a gross profit of $500m in the first half on revenue of $900m, though it also flagged an $85m exploration write-off.
In the previous corresponding period, Tullow Oil posted a gross profit of $521m on revenue of $905m.
Shares in professional services firm RPS fell sharply, down 35%, as it warned on profit amid weak trading in Australia and the Asia Pacific region.
SMALL CAP RISERS AND FALLERS
Womens' fashion retailer Bonmarche tumbled 22.7% after it warned that it may miss its profit guidance, due to poor trading in the first quarter and said it would now accept a bid for the business it had previously rejected.
Agricultural product supplier Wynnstay rose 0.6%, despite it booking a fall in first-half profit that it pinned on an unusually warm winter and more cautious farmer spending.
Car auctioneer BCA Marketplace, currently in a takeover situation, advanced 2.4% after it posted an 18% rise in annual profit.
Printed circuit technology group Trackwise Designs dipped 2.1% on announcing that it had made a 'promising' start to the year and was currently trading in line with market expectations.