Oil prices briefly rose above $89 a barrel for the first time since October, which hit stocks in the travel sectorTravel sector stocks took a hit as oil climbed about $89 a barrel for the first time since October. Photograph: Timothy Clary / Getty Images
On a more positive note, Irish Continental Group, which owns Irish Ferries, resisted the slump to finish the day up 3 per cent.How can I help my mum if she refuses to sign an enduring power of attorney?Sun goes down on German economy as recession drags on and government spending is slashed But by the end of the day, the index’s fortunes had turned, closing down 17.53 points, or 0.22 per cent, to end the day at 7935.09. The fall was led by Reckitt and Entain, which both were about 5 per cent weaker.
The Stoxx Europe 600 index was down 0.8 per cent, while, in Frankfurt, the Dax index fell 1.09 per cent, and the Cac 40 in Paris closed down 0.92 per cent.