A shares slump inspired by the failure of Japanese policymakers to deliver new stimulus measures saw stocks slide yesterday.
The FTSE-100 index was down more than 100 points during the session although it had partially recovered by the close to end 60.37 points down at 6340.08, still a fall of nearly 1%.
Miners dominated the fallers' board, with Evraz down by nearly 6%. The slide came after Japan's Nikkei fell 1% overnight, giving up some of the 4.9% rise seen after an upward revision of first quarter economic growth data.
A statement issued by the Bank of Japan announced no major policy changes, but reiterated its expectation for a moderate recovery in the coming months.
Analysts had been hoping to see more from the central bank, either in the way of more actual stimulus or simply verbal reassurances.
However, the fact that markets slumped so heavily on the development appears to indicate a wider malaise. European markets were also down, with Germany's Dax and Paris's Cac 40 both seeing falls of more than 1%.
Traders in New York, however, appeared to be holding firm, with the Dow Jonesindustrial average flat at the close in London.
On the currency market, the pound was flat against the dollar and the euro, at 1.56 dollars and 1.17 euros.
Joshua Mahony, research analyst at Alpari, said: "Given the size and scope of this reaction, it is clear that investors have changed tack from one in which the default reaction is to buy to one in which every market event is analysed from a more sceptical point of view."
Anglo American shares were down more than 3%, or 50p, at 1371.5p while other big fallers included Randgold Resources, dropping nearly 2%, or 99p, to 4926p, while Rio Tinto was off 37.5p, at 2702.5p. Evraz fell 7.3p to 117.3p.
Fund manager Aberdeen Asset Management did badly from the sell-off on the Footsie as its shares plunged 18.3p to 395.8p, more than 4%.
Just a handful of blue-chip stocks saw gains. Traders took refuge in the likes of easyJet, still flying high amid confidence in its future after recently unveiling positive passenger data. The shares were up 3p to 1229p.
Severn Trent shares gave up 9p, or 0.5%, to 1937p. It was confirmed after the market closed the LongRiver consortium pursuing the water firm have walked away after having three takeover offers rejected.
LongRiver had bid £22 per share, on Friday, valuing Severn Trent at £9.5 billion.
The biggest risers on the Footsie were Royal Dutch Shell, up 16.5p to 2210p, Rolls-Royce, up 6p to 1187p, Tullow Oil, ahead 5p at 1017p, and Reed Elsevier, up 3.5p at 746.5p.
The biggest fallers were Evraz, down 7.3p to 117.3p, Burberry, down 69p to 1358p, Aberdeen Asset Management, off 18.3p at 395.8p, and Polymetal International down 27p at 617p.
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