World stock markets dived again today, as higher than expected US inflation figures caused new fears over rising interest rates.
London's FTSE lost almost 3%, or 170 points, to close at 5,676 - its biggest points fall since September 2002. The Paris and Frankfurt markets also closed over 3% lower. European shares have lost about 7% of their value since last Tuesday.
Dublin's ISEQ index slumped 123 points to close at 7,667, with most of the index heavyweights lower. The ISEQ has lost about 4% of its value in the last week.
Meanwhile, on Wall Street the Dow Jones and the Nasdaq were down over one and a half per cent tonight as a big jump in energy costs pushed US consumer prices up a sharp 0.6% in April.