Markets were dragged lower today by a surprise slowdown in Chinese growth, knocking commodity prices and fuelling worries about the strength of the global recovery.
The FTSE 100 Index closed down 40.8 points at 6,343.6, a 0.6% fall, as mining stocks weighed on the blue-chip index.
Precious metals miner Fresnillo was the biggest faller, tumbling 15.2% or 193p to close at £10.80.
Russian gold and silver producer Polymetal International shed 13% or 113p to 746p, while Randgold Resources was 8.3% off, falling 413p to £45.45.
Plunging oil prices also hit oil services stocks. Petrofac was down 52p to £13.48, a 3.7% fall, while Wood Group was 36.5p lower at 817p, a 4.3% fall.
United Utilities was one of the biggest risers in the FTSE 100 amid speculation it is strengthening its defences against a possible £7billion takeover offer. Shares were 18p higher at 739p, while fellow water supplier Severn Trent was buoyed by the speculation as it rose 27p to £17.33.
Airlines were also among the risers, with low-cost carrier easyJet climbing 35p to £11.38, a 3% gain, and British Airways owner International Consolidated Airlines climbing 6.8p to 250.4p, up 2.8%.
The biggest risers on the FTSE 100 also included Glaxosmithkline, up 61p to 1,630.5p.
Among the biggest fallers on the FTSE 100 was Antofagasta, 76p lower to 937p.
Steven McKay, of investment manager and financial planning specialist Brewin Dolphin in Aberdeen, noted that Wolfson Microelectronics continued its rise from last week, adding a further 2.13% to close the day at 201p. Plexus gained 1.9% to finish the trading session at 212.38p.
Fallers included Premier Oil, which weakened 5.37% to 371.45p.