FTSE 100 eases back from earlier losses

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(Close): London's FTSE 100 eased back from a fall of more than 1% to close down by 0.34% at 6,895.8 points.

Capita was for the second day the biggest faller, ending 4% lower - having sunk 27% on Thursday after a profit warning.

Banks recovered from heavy falls after speculative reports that troubled Deutsche Bank's US fine may be reduced.

Barclays ended 0.3% up and Royal Bank of Scotland was 0.96% better.

Oil prices, boosted this week in the wake of hopes of an Opec agreement to cut output, made further gains.

Brent crude rose 0.18% to $49.99 a barrel, and US crude was trading 0.5% up at $48.05.

On the currency markets, the pound was up 0.29% against the dollar at $1.3005 and up 0.20% against the euro at €1.1578.