Around the World's Markets: London

LEADING SHARES fell sharply after a worse-than-expected US trade figures added to nervousness over the state of the US economy. The FTSE 100 ended 83.8 points, or 1.35 per cent, lower at 6,118.0, having fallen as low as 6,104.2.

BP Amoco and Shell bore the brunt of the fall - together wiping 22 points off the FTSE 100 - amid signs that oil prices may be levelling off. Rate-sensitive telecom shares remained out of favour and took another 15 points.