Markets: fears over Greece send FTSE 100 tumbling

The FTSE 100 fell hard yesterday as worries over Greece and knock-on effects of the shootings in Tunisia hit the market. The index closed down 2% at 6,620.

  • FTSE 100 down 2% to 6,620
  • Gold up 0.36% to $1,179.82
  • £/$ - 1.5738

FTSE 100

Travel firms were the day's worst performers. TUI was the biggest faller of the day, down 7.1%, while International Consolidated Airlines fell 4.1%, and InterContinental Hotels lost 3.4%.

In Europe's markets yesterday, the Paris CAC 40 slid 3.7% to 4,869, and the German Xetra Dax was 3.6% lower at 11,083.

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In the US, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 2% to 17,596, the S&P 500 fell 2.1% to 2,057, and the Nasdaq Composite was 2.4% lower at 4,958.

Overnight in Japan, the Nikkei 225 rose 0.6% to 20,235, and the broader Topix index added 0.3% to 1,630. And in China, the CSI 300 fell 6.7% to 4,473, and the Shanghai Composite gained 5.5% to 4,277.

Brent spot was trading at $62.04 early today, and in New York, crude oil was at $58.21. Spot gold was trading at $1,176 an ounce, silver was at $15.64, and platinum was at $1,080.

In the forex markets this morning, sterling was trading against the US dollar at 1.5706 and against the euro at 1.4064. The dollar was trading at 0.8954 against the euro and 122.25 against the Japanese yen.

And today, online grocer Ocado reported a rise in profits for the first half of the year. In the 48 weeks to 17 May, the firm made earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) of £38.2m, up from £34.3m for the same period last year.