The prospect of a two-day shutdown for Wall Street markets due to the threat of Hurricane Sandy meant European trade was under pressure today.
The superstorm also had a bearing on the insurance sector as the US east coast prepares for the possibility of 70mph winds and an 11-foot storm surge.
The FTSE 100 Index was 21.2 points lower at 5785.4 after a mixed session for markets in Asia, where investors were focused on whether the Bank of Japan will announce new measures to help the country's economy this week.
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