Week ends on sour note as markets take a further hit

HOPES that the London market might end a turbulent week on a high note crashed today as blue-chip shares fell sharply.

All of yesterday's 106.7-point improvement was erased as the FTSE 100 Index fell throughout the session to close off a weighty 199.0 points at 4098.3.

Although the top flight index managed to stay above Monday's 3994.5 finish - when it hit lows not seen since December 1996 about £48 billion was still wiped off the value of shares.