Footsie falls as investors worry about anthrax scares
London shares have followed the lead of world markets overnight to fall back heavily in early trading.
The Footsie index of 100 leading stocks is down 91.8 points after an hour's trading to stand at 5111.6 after anthrax scares appeared to panic investors in the US and Asia.
The downbeat opening reverses yesterday's strong session, when the London market closed at its highest level since September 6.
Tech shares have lost much of their shine from yesterday, as sentiment takes a hit from a downbeat trading statement by former Footsie company CMG.
Shares in the Anglo-Dutch software are down 22% or 62p to 222p after it reported a drop in business following the US terror attacks. It is also cutting 470 jobs.
Among other tech stocks, software group Sage is heading the Footsie fallers' board with a drop of 8% or 17p to 188p.
Computer services firm Logica is down 62p to 723p; and chip designer Arm Holdings is down 21¾p at 312¼p.
Only six stocks are in positive territory after the first hour.
They are led by life assurer Prudential, which has gained 2% or 16½p at 734½p, after reporting a 54% rise in nine-month sales.
But Footsie 250-listed WH Smith is down 13p to 452p after announcing that full-year profits had fallen by more than expected.
