Chancellor George Osborne’s efforts to calm the markets over Brexit proved fruitless as more than £40bn (€48bn) was wiped off the value of Britain’s biggest companies.

More than £50 billion (€61.5bn) has been wiped off the value of the UK’s biggest companies after Britain voted to leave the European Union.

The London market closed higher with traders cheered by strong US economic data, soothing a hangover caused by Thursday’s stark warning by the Bank of England governor about the cost of a Brexit vote.

The London market ended the session by posting four straight weeks of losses, despite edging up yesterday.

The FTSE 100 Index fell for the fourth session in a row in today as traders took little comfort from the latest eurozone recovery measures.

Political gridlock in Washington left European markets in the red today amid disappointment over the lack of progress in resolving America's budget crisis.

Power giants Centrica and SSE saw UK shares tumble after Labour leader Ed Miliband’s vow to freeze household energy bills spooked markets.

British Airways and Iberia owner International Airlines Group (IAG) lifted nearly 7% today as the business posted better-than-expected results.

Global stock markets powered ahead today on renewed hopes America's money-printing presses will continue to roll.

London's leading shares index closed in the red today after machinery firm Caterpillar and toys giant Hasbro offered more gloom from the US reporting season.

Increased optimism that central bankers will pull the trigger on further emergency support measures ensured a robust performance on the London market today.

Fears that Greece will crash out of the euro triggered a global sell-off that left London’s leading shares index at its lowest close of 2012.

Supermarket giant Tesco failed to win over investors with its £1bn plan to revive its UK arm today as the grocer followed world markets into the red.

A late rally today helped London’s leading shares index recover from Tuesday’s rout despite mixed signs about the health of the world’s biggest economy.

World markets today recouped some of the losses they suffered in yesterday’s rout, with banks and mining stocks leading the recovery.

Further signs of recovery in the US failed to distract investors from gloomy manufacturing figures in China and the eurozone today as London’s leading shares index closed in the red.

World markets wallowed in the red today as investor confidence was hit by fears over slowing growth in Asian powerhouse China.

A weak start for London shares turned into a full-blown rout today as investors ditched risky stocks on more global growth fears.

London’s leading shares index took a fresh beating today as continued deadlock over America’s budget deficit added to worries about European debt.

The FTSE 100 Index suffered its fifth losing session in a row today as high borrowing costs for Italy and Spain fuelled fears of a eurozone meltdown.

London’s leading shares index pushed higher today amid hope that Greek prime minister George Papandreou would drop his plans to hold a referendum on the eurozone rescue deal.

The London market made nervous gains today as traders waited for the details of a eurozone rescue plan set to be hammered out a crunch meeting of politicians.

London's blue chip shares today made nervous gains in a volatile session as traders digested a possible three trillion euro plan to rescue the single currency.

BRITISH stocks climbed for the fifth day in six amid speculation the US Federal Reserve may announce more stimulus measures to help drive the world’s largest economy.

French banking stocks drove another sell-off on world markets today amid renewed fears that Greece would default on its debts.

The FTSE 100 Index continued its rebound today as positive jobs and manufacturing data from the US ensured a last minute push into the black.

London’s FTSE 100 Index made more gains on hopes this week may have seen the start of a solution to the eurozone’s debt worries.

The London market fell 1.5% today as banking shares took a hammering amid fresh fears about the eurozone debt crisis.

The London market closed lower today as improved US jobs data failed to offset fears over the wider economy.

The London market closed in the red today after disappointing jobs data in the US reignited fears over the strength of the global economic recovery.

Marks & Spencer was the FTSE 100 Index’s top faller today despite posting a 13% rise in annual profits as analysts fretted that its results could be “as good as it gets” for the retailer.

The London market sunk deeper into the red today after further falls in commodity prices hit traders' confidence.

The London market continued its grim week today after worse than expected results from Lloyds Banking Group sparked losses for financial stocks.

World markets suffered heavy declines today amid fresh fears over Japan's ongoing nuclear crisis and a lacklustre start to the US earnings season.

Aggreko led the FTSE 100 Index further above the 6000 level today after it was lifted by a deal to supply power to the firm that ran the crippled Fukushima power plant.

Banking shares kept the London market aloft today following bullish comment on the sector from investment brokers.

Traders shrugged off sovereign debt woes and sustained violence in Libya as reassuring results from Next and B&Q owner Kingfisher boosted the retail sector.

The FTSE 100 Index surged ahead for the third session in a row today as a multi-billion dollar telecoms deal offset concerns over military strikes in Libya and the ongoing nuclear crisis in Japan.

World markets took another step in their recovery today after a multi-billion dollar deal in the telecoms sector boosted confidence.

Falling oil prices offered support for the FTSE 100 Index today but hefty declines among miners limited gains in the top tier.

Escalating violence in Libya sent London’s FTSE 100 Index into the red today and pushed oil prices up to two-and-a-half-year highs.

Barclays gave bank shares a boost today as it unveiled better-than-expected profits of £6.1bn (€7.3bn) in a strong start to the sector’s annual results season.

Mining stocks weighed the FTSE 100 Index down today amid fears that further Chinese monetary tightening will choke demand.