Grieving South African families were mourning today at memorial services for 34 striking miners killed by police, as a nation in shock asked who gave the orders and who must be blamed.

More than 30 people have been killed after South Africa’s police officers opened fire on striking workers at a Lonmin PLC mine.

A bleak warning from Bank of England governor Mervyn King, eurozone uncertainty and worse-than-expected US unemployment data ended the rally on the London market today.

The London market was led higher by retailers today after encouraging results from Next and John Lewis provided the sector with some much-needed cheer.

The London market moved cautiously today as fears over the European debt crisis remained.

Standard Life bucked a slide for the FTSE 100 Index today after cheering investors with its latest sales figures.

The FTSE 100 Index shed almost 2% today as worries over Chinese growth and mixed results from US banks sent tremors through world markets.

Energy and banking firms were out of favour with investors today as the London market slid lower.

Persistent fears over the US economy sparked a sell-off on world stock markets today as yesterday’s cheer over the end of America’s recession proved short-lived.

Supermarket Sainsbury’s was a prominent casualty today as the FTSE 100 Index failed to maintain the momentum after two winning sessions.

The collapse of a major mining takeover brought the London market back to earth today after the record gain of the previous session.

Shares in Lonmin soared almost 50% today after Anglo-Swiss mining firm Xstrata made a £5bn (€6.3bn) offer for the world’s third-largest platinum producer.

Oil prices reached a new record high today as the London market ended a volatile session in positive territory.

Strong gains in the mining sector helped the London market regain its poise today after yesterday’s heavy losses.

London’s blue chips found momentum in afternoon trading today after better-than-expected economic data from the US.

Banking group Barclays led a rally for London’s financial stocks today as investors cast aside last month’s credit concerns.

The FTSE 100 Index slid 4.1% today during another session of turmoil for world markets.

London’s blue-chips finished the week in the red today after a downbeat opening on Wall Street sent the market lower.

London’s FTSE 100 Index recorded its first positive finish in six sessions today after benefiting from a strong start to trading on Wall Street.

The UK’s biggest supermarket chain saw its shares slump more than 3% today after its latest sales figures disappointed the City.

The London market held its position in positive territory today as investors put the wobbles over China markets behind them.

The London market closed in negative territory today despite a strong showing from mining and oil stocks.

A strong run for firms reporting results this week helped London's blue-chips gain ground today although downbeat economic news from the US took the gloss off the day.

The London market has finished in positive territory despite downbeat US manufacturing figures giving blue-chips a jolt late in the session.

The London market experienced a slight rally in afternoon trading today as the FTSE 100 Index clawed back some of the session’s earlier losses.

The London market edged further above the 6300 mark today as it built on strong gains yesterday despite a slow start to the session.