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BT was among the companies dragging the FTSE down after it announced third quarter earnings had fallen nine per cent while remaining silent on the size of its pension deficit.
Meanwhile, shares in drinks group Diageo, the manufacturer of Guinness and Johnnie Walker, fell more than 43p to 864p.
On the upside, travel agents Thomas Cook was up 8.75p after an optimistic trading statement, reports the Guardian's Market Forces Live Blog.
Analysts at Teathers commented: "With concerns about weakening Northern European economies, we did see a risk that trading here and in Germany, where we are yet to get industry consolidation could be the group's undoing this year."
The FTSE remained calm yesterday following news that the US senate at passed president Barack Obama's economic stimulus package.
