Dow Jones

The FTSE plunged into negative territory in afternoon trading Friday as concerns over US economic growth and mixed results from big corporates drove Wall Street into negative territory at the start of trading.

The FTSE opened up at 5237.75, up 26.46 points, (0.51%) as European stocks edged higher in opening trading, drawing some optimism from Wall Street's late-session comeback.

Update 12pm: The FTSE dropped more than half a percentage point into the red this afternoon following a shaky morning session for banks.

Hopes of a strong Q2 earnings season boosted investor sentiment on Tuesday, helping the FTSE to triple-digit gains.

The FTSE 100 suffered a 1.3% drop in early trading as growth concerns in the US led to renewed global jitters.

Robert Prechter said on Tuesday he expects that as the U.S. economy sinks into a deflationary depression stocks will plunge.

The FTSE 100 has slipped further into the red in late afternoon trading as disappointing US manufacturing and housing data added to growing concerns of stuttering global growth.

The FTSE 100 index has clawed back some of the previous session's sharp losses this morning.

The FTSE 100 opened higher, up 0.35% or 18.22 points to 5,196.74 following Wall Street's late rally.

US markets opened strongly today as global stock markets thrive on news China is likely to end its currency peg with the dollar.