FTSE 100

London's leading index lost ground in morning trading as investors braced for a round of woeful reports from the third quarter earnings season.

The US unemployment rate has fallen below 8% for the first time since January 2009, raising hopes over the strength of the US recovery and giving global equities a boost.

DIVIDENDS

London's leading share index is edging back up towards the 5,800 mark in early trading, recovering from a fall to a three-week low at the end of last week as Spanish bailout fears weighed on sentiment.

The FTSE 100 has opened up 0.4% on the final day of Q3 trading as Spain's 2013 budget measures helped ease concerns over the country's economy.

The FTSE 100 was off over 1% mid-afternoon as investors spooked by the latest developments in Spain took risk off the table.

Asian and US markets closed lower overnight as the latest economic data emerging from leading economies around the world continued to worry investors.

Global markets sold off this morning as bullish sentiment over central bank moves showed signs of losing momentum.

European markets were well into positive territory in afternoon trading, lifted by Spanish bailout talk, while in the US, Apple's latest iPhone sent its shares up to a new peak.

Markets were trading in the red this afternoon as eurozone worries and a dispute between Japan and China weighed on investor sentiment.