Around the World's Markets

LONDON

SHARES closed modestly lower after positive developments in the Kosovo conflict helped them off their lows. The FTSE 100 ended 7.2 points down to 6348.8 after news of a Serb troop withdrawal helped to pare earlier losses.

The index had been down as much as 75 points in the morning on fears of an interest-rate rise in the UK and US. A weak British Retail Consortium survey, leaked t ahead of publication today, also eased fears of a rate hike. The midcap ended 18.6 lower at 5,843.3; the small cap rose 4.8 to 2,583.2.