Britain's top share index fell sharply on Friday, led lower by commodities stocks, after the US Federal Reserve left interest rates unchanged on concerns about the health of the global economy. Recent financial market volatility and disappointing inflation data contributed to the Fed's decision to hold rates steady, but the committee maintained its bias towards a rate hike sometime this year, while lowering its long-term outlook for the economy.
"Markets have increasingly become worried about the sustainability of global growth and the Federal Reserve's reluctance to raise interest rates fuels those concerns," Robert Parkes, equity strategist at HSBC, said. "The Fed's assessment of the global economic conditions has made investors nervous as uncertainty about the timing of a US rate hike continues. We think that a rate hike could still be announced in December."
The bluechip FTSE 100 index ended 1.3 percent lower at 6,104.11 points. It is down about 7 percent so far this year. "Markets have taken cues from the US, but uncertainty prevails and choppiness is the only certain result. Deflation is a concern. China is a concern, and oil prices look set to take another leg lower," Brenda Kelly, head analyst at London Capital Group, said.
Energy and mining shares were among the top decliners in the FTSE 100 index as prices of both crude oil and copper fell about 2.5 percent on concerns about global growth. The UK oil and gas index fell 3.5 percent, while miners were down 1.7 percent. Shares in Royal Dutch Shell, BP, Anglo American and BG Group dropped 2.0 to 3.8 percent. "There's just generally a lot of nervousness around at the moment. There are fears over global growth, and I think those are taking centre stage rather than interest rates in America," said Laith Khalaf, senior analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown.
"Actually what's concerning everybody is what's going on in China, and the effect that that's going to have on global growth." Lingering concerns about the pace of economic growth in China, the world's largest metals consumer, have hammered metals prices in recent months, forcing some companies to take drastic measures such as suspending dividends, cutting capital expenditures and placing shares.
Commodities trader and miner Glencore led the fallers, down 4.7 percent and trading near a record low after trade bodies raised questions about its recent $2.5 billion equity placing. On the positive side, some precious metal mining companies surged on expectations that the Fed's move to hold US interest rates would keep the dollar under pressure and lift gold prices.
Shares in miners Randgold Resources and Fresnillo rose 3.6 percent and 3.4 percent respectively. In the mid-caps, healthcare services provider UDG Healthcare surged 9.6 percent after McKesson Corporation agreed to buy its pharmaceutical distribution division.