An unexpected dip in US consumer sentiment has knocked stocks on Wall Street and around the world, with the Dow Jones down more than 1% and the FTSE 100 more than 40 points lower.
The UK bluechip index was down 44.7 points, or 0.9%, at 5178 after the Reuters/University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers said its preliminary index of sentiment for October fell to 69.4, from September's 73.5. That was below economists' median expectation of a steady reading of 73.5.
The Dow Jones industrial average extended losses following the report and was down 106 points, or 1.1%, at 9956.6 at 3.17pm UK time. It had already opened lower after disappointing corporate results published before the opening bell. Bank of America reported a $1bn (£612m) quarterly loss and General Electric posted worse than expected revenues.
