Concerns about the health of the world's biggest economy weighed on global stock markets, holding back a subdued FTSE-100 Index.

After making tentative headway in early trade, the UK's top tier ended narrowly lower, knocked back by a glut of gloomy data from the US which showed unhealthy consumer sentiment and a weaker-than-expected manufacturing sector.

That drove the FTSE 100 down 0.5 points to 6243.7 – the top tier's fifth day of retreat.

Ken Goldstein, economist at The Conference Board, said the March figures reflect a US economy that has lost some steam.

He said: "The biggest challenge remains weak demand, due to nervous consumer sentiment and slow income growth."

The Dax in Frankfurt was driven lower, the Cac 40 in Paris managed only marginal gains, and on Wall Street the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell.

Stock markets have been under pressure in recent days on concerns about slowing Chinese growth, the struggling eurozone economy and mixed corporate results in the US.

In the UK, retailer Debenhams highlighted the impact of the snow-hit start to the year as its profits dropped 5.4% to £120.3 million for the six months to March 2, in line with last month's warning about sales.

However, investors were encouraged by comments from chief executive Michael Sharp, who backed the group's spring and summer ranges and reported market-beating online sales, which surged by 46% in the first half.

With Investec Securities placing a buy rating on the stock in the wake of the results, shares lifted 5% or 4p to 84.5p in the FTSE 250 Index.

Pharmaceuticals group GlaxoSmithKline was among the biggest top flight risers, up 3.2% or 51p to 1658p, after US regulators gave their backing to Breo, its experimental lung disease treatment.

Engineering group GKN, which makes driveshafts for almost half of all new cars, was close behind after chief executive Nigel Stein said he expected results to improve now restructuring charges are out the way.

First quarter figures showed sales rose 9% to £1.89 billion, while profits were 1% lower at £139m as a result of a £23m one-off charge. Shares responded with a rise of 6.3p to 252p.

Meanwhile, shares in housebuilder Persimmon rose 3p to 1109p after it saw a rise in visitor levels to its developments.

That buoyed peers including Taylor Wimpey, 1.1p ahead to 89.7p, Barratt Developments, 8p up to 291.1p and Berkeley Group, 38p higher to 2033p.