skip to main content

World stock markets dive on rate fears

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.