Markets continue to fall over economy fears

Friends Provident fell 12.6 points, or 9.65%, to 118 after US private equity house JC Flowers gave the provider an ultimatum over its 150p per share offer. London Stock Exchange Group fell 43 points, or 3.46%, to 1201. Brewers enjoyed more success as Whitbread rose 28 points, or 2.5%, to 1146 and SABMiller rose 19 points, or 1.79%, to 1081. In New York, Bank of America fell 1.02 points, or 2.76%, to 35.92 while Alcoa fell 0.78 points, or 2.22%, to 34.37. Meanwhile, Coca Cola rose 0.63 points, or 1.04%, to 60.92 and International Business Machines rose 1.2 points, or 1.03%, to 117.2. T...