Eurozone worries compounded by strikes in Greece over austerity cuts saw London’s FTSE 100 Index close 1.6%, or 91.6 points down at 5768.1 today.
The blue-chip fallers board was dominated by financial stocks, with Royal Bank of Scotland off 6%, or 14.9p to 255.1p, Barclays down 9.6p at 213.7p and Lloyds Banking Group 1.7p lower at 38.9p.
In the insurance sector, More Than parent RSA dropped 5%, or 5.6p to 113.1p amid fears over the cost of claims related to the floods across the UK after the most intense September storm for decades.
Aviva was also lower, down 7.8p to 321.3p, and Legal and General dropped 3.2p to 132.7p.
There were only two blue-chip stocks in positive territory, with quality control services group Intertek up 8p to £27.20 and British American Tobacco 2p ahead at £32.05.
Outside the top flight, the recent strong run for shares in Domino’s Pizza – down 22.5p at 540.5p – came to an end after third quarter sales figures disappointed investors.
Waste disposal group Shanks was also under pressure after it warned annual profits would be below City expectations. Shares fell by 15% at one stage, although the stock pulled back slightly to close 12%, or 11.25p lower at 79p.
Retailer Topps Tiles was 4%, or 2.25p lower at 47p despite a robust end to its financial year.
Alan MacPhee, of investment manager and financial planning specialist Brewin Dolphin in Aberdeen, noted John Menzies up 2% at £6.45, Hunting down 4.14% at 833.5p and Wood Group off 3.55% to £7.88.