FEARS for global growth prompted a rout for top-rated shares.
The FTSE 100 Index finished more than 2% down – off 123.35 points at 5366.8 – after the US Federal Reserve’s failure to signal more stimulus measures fuelled fears about the recovery.
Oil giants BP and Royal Dutch Shell were among the big fallers.
Lloyds Banking Group was the best performing banking stock after it ended uncertainty over its leadership by announcing that Antonio Horta-Osorio will return as chief executive on January 9.
Progress on the sale of 632 branches, with the Co-op being chosen as preferred bidder, helped limit the fall in shares to 0.65p at 24.1p.
