It's been another volatile day at the trading desk, with the FTSE 100 index losing almost all of yesterday's US rate cut-inspired gains.
The index traded in a near 330 point range as dealers tried to get to grips with recent events. It climbed as high as 5844, fell as low as 5518 before closing at 5609.3, down 130.8 points.
Early gloom came from signs that the Bank of England was unlikely to follow the Fed with an emergency rate cut. Then Wall Street opened sharply lower and undercut any chance of a recovery.
Miners and oil companies have generally closed weaker on fears that a US recession would hit demand. Exceptions were potential bid candidates Xstrata, up 80p to £33.60, and Anglo American, 65p better at £25.49.
Stakebuilding and bid speculation lifted insurer Prudential - up 7.5p to 626p on talk of interest from a Chinese rival - and bookmaker William Hill - 34.75p higher at 405.75p on rumours that Greek gambling group Opap was considering a takeover.
