//
According to Proactive Investors, Next and Capita Group were the only companies to climb during the day's trading, adding one per cent and 1.5 per cent respectively.
Investors were downbeat after Standard and Poor's lowered its outlook for Italy, which raised fresh concerns over Europe's fiscal stability.
Wood Group, the oil and gas services firm, was the biggest faller on the index, losing 5.5 per cent.
There were drops of four per cent for mining firms Anglo American and Antofagasta - as well as builders merchant Wolseley - while hedge fund manager Man Group shed five per cent.
However, a slight recovery took place during morning trading today. According to Reuters, the FTSE had advanced 0.4 per cent by 12:18 GMT, led by oil producers and mining firms.
Posted by Clive Arneil
