There was a general lack of confidence in London's equity market yesterday as nagging worries about the potential for interest rate rises next month, in Britain, the US and the euro zone, produced a rather queasy performance by the leading stocks. The market's second and third-ranking stocks also gave ground, although not on the scale of the blue chips.

The FTSE 100 index ended the day 46.7 lower at 6,045.7, having fallen to a session low of 6,016.7, down 75.7, at its worst.

Dealers were generally in agreement that the market's recent volatility, which has seen the FTSE 100 index, London's benchmark, see-saw violently, will continue until the interest rate decisions are taken.

Markets are now bracing themselves for the US third-quarter gross domestic product and employment cost index, which could easily produce fireworks on Wall Street today.

Turnover in equities was 1.1 billion shares.