At the close: FTSE 100 index closes down on commodities and banks
The FTSE 100 index closed down today over renewed fears of weakness in commodity markets and concerns over bank stocks after reports the Chinese central bank suspended a number of foreign banks from conducting some foreign exchange business.
The UK's top blue-chip index shut 0.64 per cent down at 6,274 points, led lower by Glencore, Royal Bank of Scotland and BHP Billiton.
Mining companies were embedded at the bottom of the FTSE, with BHP Billiton and Glencore having fallen 1.96 per cent to 760.6p per share and 3.54 per cent to 89.8p per share respectively, while Anglo American wasn't far behind, dropping 1.81 per cent to 301.8p per share.
Rio Tinto also fell 0.96 per cent to 1,959p per share.
Read more: Oil prices crawl back up as the US braces for colder weather
Meanwhile, bank stocks took a hit after the Chinese central bank suspended at least three foreign banks from conducting some foreign exchange business, according to reports.
Shares in Royal Bank of Scotland were down 2.35 per cent at 302.8p per share, while HSBC shares fell 1.25 per cent to 537.8p per share and Standard Chartered dropped 2.53 per cent to 566.1p per share.
Barclays' share price also fell 0.85 per cent to 220.7p per share, as it was also dealing with the news of a $13.75bn fine.
Read more: Oil prices crawl back up as the US braces for colder weather
And after some very brief respite yesterday, oil prices fell again as a weaker outlook dominated. BP fell 1.55 per cent to 355.15p per share, while BG Group fell 1.39 per cent, dropping to 991.5p per share.
Royal Dutch Shell, meanwhile, fell 1.01 per cent to 1,563p per share.