Around the World's Markets: London

THE FTSE 100 fell below the key 6,000 level as worries over interest rates and oil prices dragged the blue-chip index down 99 points to 5,957, its lowest close for more than seven months.

Rate-sensitive bank shares wiped some 20 points off the FTSE 100, with insurers featuring among the worst performers, while oil majors BP Amoco and Shell accounted for another one-fifth of the index's fall as profit- taking hit the sector ahead of an Opec meeting today.

Market report, page 21