FTSE 100 continues to gain ground as oil companies provide support Companies FTSE 100 continues to gain ground as oil companies provide support The UK blue chip index heads higher as inflation figures come in marginally lower than expected Petrol price rises added to inflation 9.40am: BP and Shell head higher OIl companies are giving some support to a UK market which looks in a bit better shape than on Tuesday. The FTSE 100 is currently up 38.87 points or 0.57% at 6898.74. The moves come despite a 0.32% slip in Brent crude to $66.36 a barrel, but on the whole the oil price is holding up despite renewed worries about a rise in the number of COVID-19 cases worldwide hitting travel and the prospects of economic recovery. Concerns about supply disruption from Libya is also in investors' minds.