Afternoon Markets: FTSE under 4,000 as US stocks dive

The FTSE 100 has plummeted under 4,000 this afternoon as US stocks open sharply lower in early tradi...

The FTSE 100 has plummeted under 4,000 this afternoon as US stocks open sharply lower in early trading. At 3pm, London's blue-chip index has fallen 103.14, or 2.52%, to 3,989.66 - while the Dow has suffered a similar percentage drop in New York this morning, down 196.73, or 2.42%, to 7,934.60. Mining stocks are being punished this afternoon, with Xstrata 11.19% lower to 524p. Peers Lonmin and Eurasian are also in a double digit percentage drop, 11.15% behind to £12.27 and 10.62% down to 517.50p. One resource giant is bucking the trend however; gold miner Randgold has advanced 6.77% to...