The UK's largest fixed-line telecoms company BT Group climbed 1 percent and hit a five-year high after posting third-quarter core earnings in line with forecasts and issuing a strong outlook amid a stronger broadband performance. "Despite some generally healthy earnings news from the blue chips reporting today, the FTSE has failed to hold onto any early gains," said Paul Webb, a trader at CMC Markets. "Many of those companies who did announce full year numbers today have seen their stocks rally but the upside here has been insufficient to buoy the market as a whole... whilst a drop in metals prices is hitting the miners hard." CMC's Webb added. Traders added that with little on the economic and corporate calendar on Friday, the start of the G7 Finance Ministers and central bankers meeting in Germany may provide policy comment to give investors direction ahead of the weekend.