FTSE closes at six-year low

The battered London market closed at its lowest level for nearly six years today, shedding more than 200 points as selling continued.

More than £48bn (€75bn) was wiped off the value of Britain’s blue chip shares as the FTSE 100 Index closed down 202.8 points at 3,895.5 - its lowest close since September 6, 1996.