The FTSE 100 Index fell 52.7 points to 5,513.7 today as bleak economic data from the US and China continued to hit sentiment.
Heavily weighted commodities companies were the worst impacted, with Fresnillo – the biggest faller – down 74p to £14.18.
Moody’s credit rating downgrade for 15 global banks failed to rattle the financial sector.
Royal Bank of Scotland was down 0.1p at 243.2p as it battled major technical problems affecting account holders, while Barclays was 1.6p lower at 200.7p.
But HSBC lifted 3.1p to 562.3p and Lloyds Banking Group rose 0.2p to 31.4p after the taxpayer-backed business avoided making it onto the list of Moody’s major downgrades, although its long-term rating was lowered by one notch.
Despite hefty falls over the past couple of days, London’s leading shares index still finished the week more than half a percent higher.
Oil prices regained some of their recent lost ground but Tullow Oil still dropped 50p to £14.31 and BP was 4.9p lower at 407.3p.
Elsewhere, Kingsmill and Jordans parent Associated British Foods rose 1p to £12.34.
Big risers in the Footsie included BT up 3.5p at £2.05, Shire ahead 22p at £19.66 and Unilever up 13p at £20.93.
Heavy fallers included Petrofac off 67p at £13.71, Carnival down 92p at £21.74 and Weir Group off 52p at £14.60.
Favourable broker comment helped price comparison site moneysupermarket rise to the top of the FTSE 250 leaders board, with its shares up 3p at 123.2p.
But a downgrade for FTSE 250 recruitment firm Michael Page International sent its stock into the red, down 4%, or 16.3p to 365.8p.
Defence technology and services company Cobham was another faller in the second tier, down 5.7p at 226.9p, after it emerged the remaining UK Voyager aircraft will now be converted in Spain, rather than by Cobham Aviation Services.
Elaine McLachlan, of investment manager and financial planning specialist Brewin Dolphin in Inverness, highlighted Optos gaining 3.5% to 192.4p, Johnston Press rising 1.05% to 5.3p and A.G. Barr up 1% at 435.8p as well as Faroe Petroleum off 6.7% at 153.1p and Wood Group down 5.7% at £6.67.