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According to Bloomberg, the largest index on the British stock exchange shed 25.18 points to 5,948.6 by 14:11 GMT due to concerns a possible European interest rate rise and increased energy prices may impede economic growth.
It was a similarly negative story for the Weir Group, which fell by 5.1 per cent to 1,689 pence after the organisation announced its net debt had increased by 140 per cent to £284 million last year.
But it did reveal an improved full-year net income from £128.8 million in 2009 to £185.1 million in 2010.
Randgold Resources also slumped by more than five per cent (5.2 per cent) to 4,628 pence.
Yesterday, it was reported the FTSE 100 index increased by 0.5 per cent at one stage during the afternoon, with Intertek among the high flyers as it climbed by six per cent.
Posted by Chris Weaver
