Around the World's Markets: LONDON

EQUITIES fell sharply, hit by heavy falls on Wall Street and other bourses. The FTSE 100 bore the brunt of the selling, ending the day 117.1 lower at 5,118.7. It has now lost all the gains made since the start of the year. The second liners fared slightly better, with the FTSE 250 losing 63.2 to 4,648.8 and the small cap losing 13.1 to 2,068.2.

Enterprise Oil, the exploration and production company, was the worst blue-chip performer, losing 12 per cent after poor interims.

Market report, page 19