Shares fell in London this morning, following trends in the US after new data revealed weaknesses in the world's largest economy.
Britain's emergence from recession in 2010 will be stronger than previously thought, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
The FTSE 100 kicked off the fourth quarter on a positive note in early trading, though shares dipped slightly towards mid-morning.
The FTSE 100 has experienced its best ever quarter, posting the biggest three-month gains in its 25-year history.
The UK's largest stocks struggled to make headway in the last session of the quarter despite a positive performance for financials and insurers.
Wall Street got off to a shaky start today as traders digest positive news on the housing market and a negative read on the Conference Board's consumer confidence index.
The UK economy contracted by less than expected between April and June, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
The FTSE 100 has opened lower this morning despite three-figure gains on Wall Street overnight.
The Dow Jones has kick-started the week with solid gains in early trading on Monday.
The FTSE 100 plunged sharply in morning trading, as banks and mining stocks dragged the index down.