FTSE Falls 1.4pc on Banks, Commodities

LONDON: Britain's top share index fell 1.4 per cent on Thursday as sagging commodity prices dented miners and energy stocks, while reduced risk appetite hurt banks.
The FTSE 100 ended down 74.43 points at 5267.70, its biggest daily fall for three weeks, after closing 0.1 per cent lower on Wednesday.

Miners were the biggest drag on the index as metal prices were pressured by a stronger dollar as the demand outlook darkened. Eurasian Natural Resources, Xstrata, Rio Tinto, Antofagasta, Anglo American and Vedanta Resources fell 3.1-5.1 per cent.

"There's been a correlation of strength in metal prices as the dollar weakens and that is now reversing," said Grahame Exton, fund manager at Tilney Investment Management in Liverpool.