It was a choppy day on European markets, but they held up reasonably well despite news from the US that unemployment there had risen above 8% in February, representing the worst month for the American labour market since 1983.
London's FTSE closed flat at 3,530 points, with Lloyds gaining over 4% on the back of reports of talks over a deal which would see the British government take a majority stake in the bank. Frankfurt's DAX lost 0.8% to 3,530 and the CAC in Paris lost 1.4% to 2,534.
The US markets reversed opening gains and by 5.25pm the Dow Jones was down marginally at 6,597 points, while the Nasdaq shed almost 1% to 1,287.
The ISEQ index of Irish shares dipped near the close of business to finish the day almost 3.5% lower at 1,949. It was a better day for the main banks, though, with AIB adding over 25% to 34 cent and Bank of Ireland almost doubling its share price to 18.5 cent.
Earlier, the Japanese stock market tumbled this morning after Wall Street markets plunged to new 12-year lows last night.
The Japanese stock market tumbled this morning after Wall Street markets plunged to new 12-year lows last night. Tokyo's Nikkei dropped 3.5% to end down 260 points at 7,173, its worst closing level since October last year.
