BBC: The UK's main share index has closed down sharply as concern over the impact of turmoil in the US sub-prime lending market continues to haunt investors.
While US shares were falling still further in early Wall Street trading, London's FTSE 100 ended the day down 4.1% or 250 points at 5,859.
This is the first time since October that the FTSE has closed below 6,000.
The falls came despite the Federal Reserve pumping an extra $17bn ($8.6bn) into the US banking system.
Central banks have been taking such action to try and restore confidence and avoid a credit squeeze.
Over the past week, the Fed has now injected $88bn (£44.3bn), while the European Central Bank has put up 211bn euros ($283.2bn; £142.6bn). Heavy losses sweep world markets (more
FAZ:
Der Crash geht weiter
LE FIGARO:
La bourse de Paris dégringole sous les 5300 points
Mark Alexander
