UK shares were once again lower this morning, extending yesterday's sharp losses as falls in Asia overnight impacted confidence.
Investors are preparing for a sell-off in equities if policy action in the US and Europe fails to be aggressive enough.
Shares across Europe were lower in trading this morning as concerns mounted ahead of a key gathering of central bankers on Friday.
Asian stock markets echoed Wall Street's overnight slump as investors fretted over declining Japanese export figures.
The S&P 500 is at a four-year high and the Dow looks set to follow as US equity investors continue to make gains.
Aberdeen's multi-asset specialist Mike Turner has outlined three crucial factors which must be aligned to support a sustained equity market rally.
Markets around the globe sold-off overnight after ECB President Mario Draghi failed to provide the stimulus the market had expected to tackle the eurozone crisis.
London's leading index was 60 points higher in afternoon trading despite a slump in UK manufacturing data, as Next and Standard Chartered lifted the market.