FTSE deepens losses after commodities tumble

Tumbling commodities prices have hit equity markets this morning, driving the FTSE 100 into the red for a fourth consecutive day.

The UK's blue chip index was down 1% at 6,621 points by 10:15am, with stocks including British American Tobacco and Standard Chartered among the biggest fallers. If the index was to close at this level it would mean a loss of 2.5% for the FTSE over the last four sessions. The losses in the UK mirror declines seen overnight in Asia. In Japan, the Nikkei closed down 2.6%, while Chinese equities also remained in the doldrums with Hong Kong's Hang Seng off 1.7%. Investors are reacting to a sell-off in commodity markets sparked by fears over slowing growth in China and elsewhere. Cop...