Around the World's Markets: London

EQUITIES WERE unsettled by the big placing of Cable & Wireless. At one time Footsie was down 122.8 points; it closed 75.4 lower at 6,206.8, with share volume, thanks to C&W, nudging 1.5 billion, one of the highest ever. Supporting shares fell back, with the mid cap index ending a 15- day winning run.

C&W led the blue-chip retreat, off 79.5p at 751p. Psion, the hand-held computer group, was a top performer, jumping 105p to 860p on rumours of new mini-computers.

Derek Pain, page 19