The FTSE 100 was down a handful of points at 7,179.26 as optimism over trade talks between the US and China was outweighed by strength in sterling.
The pound moved higher after a meeting between prime minister Boris Johnson and his Irish counterpart Leo Varadkar on Thursday raised hopes of a Brexit deal.
Owner of airline Jet2 Dart Group (DTG:AIM) gained 13.2% to £10.58 as it increased its profit guidance, seeing increased demand in the wake of the collapse of rival Thomas Cook.
Advertising giant WPP (WPP) was the biggest FTSE 100 faller, down 4.1% to 924.8p after a profit warning from French rival Publicis.
Hedge fund manager Man Group (EMG) shed 2.3% to 158.5p on warning that its outlook on fund flows remained 'mixed' amid Brexit uncertainty, while reporting a fall in third-quarter net assets.
Media production firm Entertainment One (ETO) shed 0.2% to 561.5p, as it reported wider first-quarter losses owing to lower broadcasting and licencing revenues. The company’s shareholders are set to vote on a £3.3bn takeover by US toymaker Hasbro on 17 October.
Interdealer broker TP ICAP (TCAP) added 0.2% to 318.1p, even as it announced that it would pay a £15.4m settlement to the UK's Financial Conduct Authority, regarding an investigation into trades undertaken between 2008 and 2011.
Nostrum Oil & Gas (NOG) tumbled 31% to 7.29p on announcing that it was unable to sustain a commercial flow of hydrocarbons from a well in Kazakhstan.
Self-storage group Big Yellow (BYG) firmed 1.4% to 1,089p as it received planning permission for a new store in Hove, England.
Fashion retailer Quiz (QUIZ:AIM) dropped 3% to 16.17p after it warned of a 5% fall in first-half revenue amid a difficult trading environment in the UK.
Chemicals company investor Wilmcote (WCH:AIM) sank 33% after it said talks with potential acquisition target Arclin were cancelled and that pursuing the deal had it a 'material' amount.
The company also said that it was talking to shareholders about potential funding options.
