Britain’s top equity index the FTSE 100 ended flat as easing concerns over China’s economy helped to offset the impact of falling oil prices.<br /><br /> A stronger US dollar and a persistent global overhang of physical oil pushed crude prices lower on Thursday with Brent falling below 50 dollars a barrel down 1.2 percent.<br /><br /> Energy companies took the most off the index, with Royal Dutch Shell and BG Group closing down 3 and 1.8 percent respectively.<br /><br /> But stock markets in Asia and Europe bounced back, Frankfurt was up close to 1 percent, Paris gained 1.25 percent.<br /><br /> “They’re taking the Chinese central bank at its word, but I’m still taking those comments with a pinch of salt,” said one analyst.<br /><br /> Political turmoil in Turkey was reflected in a 1.39 percent drop in Istanbul one of the few indexes to close at a loss.
