Economics / Markets

London is struggling this morning as falling metal prices cause miners to drill into the FTSE 100, with the index currently 30.9 points down, or 0.51%, to 6071.3.

The FTSE fell 117.9 points, or 1.9%, this afternoon to 6102.2p.

The FTSE dropped 36.6 points, or 0.59%, this morning to 6183.5.

In London, markets suffered a turbulent day but the FTSE finished up by 23.2 points, or 0.37%, to 6,220.1.

In London, trading was cautious after several Asian banks revealed higher than expected losses related to the US sub-prime crisis and the FTSE 100 was up 12.5 points, or 0.2%, to 6,209.4.

A LONG term structural shift in the sector composition of the EMEA region is underway, according to Fidelity International.

The credit crunch which swept across the FTSE last week appears well and truly over after the index climbed 74 points, or 1.19%, to stabilise at a healthy 6,270.

THE current "financial stress" offers significant opportunities to investors, and to fundamental contrarian managers in particular, according to Miles Geldard of MPC Investors, the independent asset manager.

MANY of the emerging economies' stock markets are set to recover strongly, driven by robust economic growth and growing independence from the US, according to Sam Mahtani, manager of the F&C Global Emerging Markets portfolio.

GLOBAL investor confidence recovered in August, according to the State Street Investor Confidence Index, which rose by 13 points to 99.3.