Billions of euro wiped off share prices

BILLIONS of euro were again wiped off share prices yesterday, hitting pension funds and private investors as fears of a war on Iraq deepened.

By close of business, the Irish market had lost €1.4 billion off its value, a drop of 2.6% on the day as the ISEQ got caught in the backwash from the carnage on other markets.

In London, the FTSE fell for a record 11th day in a row as close to £30bn was wiped off its value as markets struggled to come to terms with the implications of war on Iraq.