FTSE tumbles after poor US jobs data

The FTSE 100 has dropped 0.8% this morning as investors get their first opportunity to act on a disappointing US jobs report on Friday.

The UK's leading share index was down 43 points at 5,681 in early trading, having previously been down as much as 1.1%, following US non-farm payrolls data that failed to meet expectations. Figures from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics released while equity markets were closed on Friday showed a gain of 120,000 jobs in March, just over half the consensus figure. That prompted a sell-off in yesterday's trading, with the S&P 500 closing down 1.1% at 1,382. Asian markets continued the fall overnight, with the Hang Seng dropping 1.2% to 20,356. The Nikkei traded flat on the day, down 0.1...