London shares close weaker

Leading shares ended weaker today, albeit above opening lows, reversing yesterday's gains in tandem with early falls on Wall Street as uncertainties over the UN arms mission to Iraq, and some poor US corporate news put equities on the back foot, dealers said.

At the close, the FTSE 100 index was 19.5 points weaker at 4,096.5, above an opening low of 4,070.7, but below the midday peak of 4,116.9.