London’s FTSE 100 Index slid below the 6,500 barrier today as disappointing US economic indicators sent world markets into the red.
The FTSE 100 closed down 39.8 points to 6,489.7, having closed above 6,500 on Monday for the first time in more than five years.
Royal Dutch Shell slipped 28p to £22.40 after JPMorgan Cazenove cut its price target on the stock amid worries over the company’s growth potential.
In the FTSE 250 Index, Rentokil Initial jumped 9% after it posted full-year results showing a better-than-expected 10% rise in profits to £191.1million.
While its City Link parcel delivery arm remains in the red, shares in the pest control and washrooms firm were 8.5p higher at 99p.
Pub chain JD Wetherspoon rose 5.5p to 515.5p despite revealing a 2.7% fall in its half-year profits to £34.8million due to rising costs.
The biggest FTSE 100 risers were Hargreaves Lansdown up 34.5p to 929.5p, International Airlines Group ahead 9.5p to 272.2p, Fresnillo 23p higher at £14.80 and Anglo American up 29p to 1,892.5p.
The biggest FTSE 100 fallers were Aberdeen Asset Management down 13.3p to 411.3p, HSBC off 19.9p to 720.1p, Melrose Industries 7.2p lower at 264.6p and Tate & Lyle down 21p to 818p.
Barry Shepherd, of investment manager and financial planning specialist Brewin Dolphin in Aberdeen, noted BG Group off 1% at £11.78, while Centrica also shed 1% to 352p.
Risers included Bridge Energy, which added 1.5% to 134.5p, and Faroe Petroleum closed 1.9% higher at 145.75p.