Around the World's Markets: London

LEADING shares were marked lower as worries of an imminent US rate hike offset a quarter-point cut in domestic rates. The FTSE 100 finished 49.6 lower at 6,403.4 as sentiment was hit by a sharp opening slide on Wall Street.

Dealers said fears of tightening US monetary policy were compounded by a sharp sell-off in the bond market. The smaller indices outperformed, with the FTSE 250 ending 12.4 points higher at 5,797 and the Small Cap posting a 7.4 rise to 2,602.8.

Market report, page 25