The FTSE 100 Index continued its poor performance today and closed down 24.1 points at 5,719.5 as hopes the US Federal Reserve would signal more stimulus measures tomorrow continued to fade.
Global growth fears continued to rattle mining stocks, with Kazakhmys off 30.5p at 586.5p, Vedanta Resources down 28p at 861p.
Barclays shares were resilient as the appointment of a new chief executive softened the blow of a Serious Fraud Office investigation.
The bank named retail boss Antony Jenkins as its new chief executive, limiting the falls suffered by its shares, which were down 2.9p at 183.5p.
Insurer Admiral was another blue-chip faller despite reporting 7% growth in pre-tax profits to £171.8million in the six months to June 30 as it grew the number of vehicles on its books by 11% to 3.5million. Shares were 34p lower at £11.62 after the group signalled slowing growth in the UK.
Meanwhile, JJB Sports lost 86% of its value after the retailer put itself up for sale in an emergency move that is unlikely to realise any value for long-suffering investors.
Shares fell 2p to 0.34p after the Wigan-based chain said it had failed to secure the funds needed to overhaul its stores.
The biggest Footsie risers were Morrisons up 4.2p at 281p, British American Tobacco ahead 38.5p at £33.25, Diageo up 18.5p at 1,742.5p and Severn Trent ahead 14p at £17.56.
Among the biggest Footsie fallers were Anglo American off 62.5p at 1,753.5p and BHP Billiton down 62p at £18.42.
David Barclay, of investment manager and financial planning specialist Brewin Dolphin in Aberdeen, noted SSE moved 0.51% ahead at £13.79 and Royal Bank of Scotland added 0.41% at 223p.
Fallers included Xcite Energy, which gave up 3.87% at 105.375p, and Cairn Energy which weakened 3.59% to 274.35p. Weir Group also finished down, slipping 2.08% to £16.01.