European stock markets had a mixed performance, with the FTSE index shedding 1.2% to close at 4,229.73 points.
The CAC in Paris gained 0.8% to 3,474, while the Frankfurt DAX lost 1% to end the session at 4,784.41. The battered banking sector topped the losers in Britain as Standard Chartered and Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) shed 8.2% and 6.2% respectively.
US stocks extended early losses, with investors digesting a batch of mixed corporate earnings reports and fresh signs of a thaw in money markets. The Dow Jones was trading 2.4% lower at 9,190 and the Nasdaq dropped 3% to 1,716.
Dublin's ISEQ index closed up 4.8% higher to stand at 2,915 - up 134 points. Irish banking shares were higher with AIB jumping 5.7% and Irish Life & Permanent adding 4.3%.
Earlier this morning in Asia, Tokyo shares jumped 3.34% higher as Sydney gained 3.9%.
