The FTSE 100 index nursed its worst two-day points fall in 3½ years today as heavyweight mining stocks, such as Xstrata extended their recent falls.
The FTSE 100 index ended the session down 70.8 points or 1.2% at 5,841.3, having earlier slumped to 5755,4 - its worst level since February and Xstra fell 202p or 8.38% to £22.08. The benchmark bounced back after the US dollar rallied, lending support to dollar-earners, such as GlaxoSmithKline, although it still closed the day down 0.7% at 1514p. The index has seen losses over the last four sessions of more than 260 points, having accelerated in the past two sessions to score its worst points loss in two days since September 2002, as inflation fears caused investors to lock in some recent...
To continue reading this article...
Join Professional Adviser for free
- Unlimited access to real-time news, industry insights and market intelligence
- Stay ahead of the curve with spotlights on emerging trends and technologies
- Receive breaking news stories straight to your inbox in the daily newsletters
- Make smart business decisions with the latest developments in regulation, investing retirement and protection
- Members-only access to the editor’s weekly Friday commentary
- Be the first to hear about our events and awards programmes