29 January 2021 | 16:37pm
StockMarketWire.com - The FTSE 100 closed a bruising five days down 1.8% at 6,407.46 on Friday as the world's escape from Covid-19 looks increasingly complicated.
The worst week for markets since October has also seen investors rattled by traders on Reddit buying stocks such as GameStop in coordinated attacks against short sellers. While fears of vaccine nationalism, ongoing surges in Covid infections and economic slowdown have contributed to the weakness.
By 4.30pm UK time the S&P 500 was down 1.3% at 3,736.57.
Back in London new float, shoe maker Dr Martens was up 19% on its first day of trading to 439.7p.
Miner Polymetal International reported strong production results for the fourth quarter and twelve months ending 31 December despite the Covid-19 pandemic. Revenue in 2020 jumped by 28% to reach $2.9 billion while fourth quarter revenue was up 31% year-on-year to $0.8 billion on the back of higher gold sales and higher metal prices.