STOCK MARKET WATCH -- Friday, 4 May 2012

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49. FTSE down nearly 1 percent on economy fears

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/05/04/uk-markets-britain-stocks-idUKBRE8430EM20120504

(Reuters) - Blue-chip shares fell by nearly 1 percent on Friday as lingering fears over the global economy knocked back heavyweight mining stocks.

Investors and traders were also keen to get news of the latest U.S. jobs data, which will be a check of how well the world's leading economy is faring.

The FTSE 100 index .FTSE was down by 0.9 percent at 5,715.13 points in late morning trade, erasing a 0.2 percent gain from the previous day.

A decline in mining and steel stocks .FTNMX1770, which tend to fall on fears of economic weakness, which would result in lower consumer demand, offset a rise in banks such as Lloyds (LLOY.L) and Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS.L).