The FTSE 100 Index was 46.3 points lower at 5,845.7 today, a fall of nearly 1%, after manufacturing figures in both China and the eurozone came in below expectations.
Heavily weighted mining stocks were battered by the renewed fears over a global recession, with Fresnillo slipping £1.16 to £16.21, Vedanta Resources dropping 65p to £12.87 and commodities trader Glencore losing 12.3p at 403.5p.
Randgold Resources was the biggest faller in London’s top flight as details emerged of a coup in Mali, where the gold miner has two big facilities.
Shares dived more than 13%, or £8.30 to £57.65 amid reports that the military had seized control in the African country.
There was a mixed session for retailers after the Office for National Statistics revealed a larger-than-expected 0.8% decline in sales volumes in February and downwardly revised growth for January.
Next, which reported a 5% rise in profits but was cautious on prospects for the rest of the year, saw shares slide 1p to £29.14. Elsewhere, Marks and Spencer dropped 2%, or 6.5p to £3.83.
But B&Q owner Kingfisher rose 7.4p to 307.4p after it revealed a 20% rise in full-year profits and highlighted the progress of its four-year turnaround programme.
Elsewhere, gaming stocks were higher despite warnings from trade bodies that a tax rise from 17% to 20% for fruit and slot machines would be a “definite blow” to the industry.
Ladbrokes was 3.6p higher at 156.1p, while rival William Hill added 6.8p to 249.9p.
David Barclay, of investment manager and financial planning specialist Brewin Dolphin in Aberdeen, highlighted Johnston Press gaining 6.03% at 7.74p and Aberdeen Asset Management rising 1.58% to £2.51.
Faroe Petroleum fell 4.08% to 153.25p, Weir Group dropped 3.01% to £18.03 and Xcite Energy slid 4.69% to 122.75p.
