Commodity issues were also out of favour as metals prices eased and crude drifted away from the $80 a barrel mark.

Xstrata was the worst of the miners, off 27p at 946.5p, while Rio Tinto lost 58.5p at 2,812p, Vedanta dropped 59p at 2,156p and Anglo American fell 41p at 2,227p.

Randgold Resources bucked the trend, adding 4p at 4,288p as gold remained over $1,038 an ounce.

Oil majors suffered in tandem with the miners, as the euphoria of BP's better-than-expected numbers yesterday wore off.

BG Group today reported operating profit of £856m in the third quarter down 38% on the prior year period, sending its shares 22.5p lower at 1,110p. BP fell 6.6p at 587.8p and Shell dropped 14p at 1,876.5p, in sympathy.

Tobacco giant BAT slumped 26p at 1,964.5p after reporting a slowing in volume growth across the world as the recession progressed. Peer Imperial Tobacco was 21p lower at 1,806p on the read across.

Among the few gainers early on, GlaxoSmithKline added 7.5p at 1,264p ahead of its interim numbers due later today, with Shire also ahead, up 7p at 1,047p and Smith & Nephew up a penny at 546.5p.

BT Group and Vodafone gained 0.8p at 134.3p and 0.15p at 137.95p, respectively, as Barclays initiated coverage on the telecoms sector with Vodafone started with an equal-weight rating and BT Group initiated with an overweight rating.

Also notable amongst the early winners were distribution specialist Bunzl, up 1.5p at 663p and confectioner Cadbury, ahead 2p at 777p, shrugging off a downgrade to hold from buy at Investec, with the target cut to 840p from 875p.

Story provided by Business Financial Newswire