Around the World's Markets: London

BRITAIN'S ROARING stock market ended the week with a whimper, as a gloomy performance by Vodafone AirTouch deflated early hopes of a record-breaking day.

The FTSE 100 closed a hectic week 39.8 points lower at 6,511.6, with three-quarters of these losses solely due to Vodafone's 6.3 per cent slide, amid concerns it is lining up a bid for Mannesmann. The index seemed to be heading for record territory earlier, jumping 61 points to 6,613.