Around the World's Markets: London

BLUE-CHIP stocks crashed through key support levels as concerns over US interest rates sent jitters through the market. The FTSE 100 shed 148 points, 2.4 per cent, to close at 5,978.4, its lowest since February and 10.3 per cent below the lifetime high set in May.

Chart specialists had warned that a key support area around 6,100 was under pressure. Nick Glydon, chartist at Robert Fleming Securities, said: "The FTSE 100 is set for another 10 per cent drop in the short term."

Market report, page 16