London and mainland European shares fell on Wednesday amid rising security fears following the Paris terror attacks.
The FTSE 100 Index fell 29.28 points to 6239 in early trading after a bomb scare forced the cancellation of a football international between Germany and the Netherlands last night.
Armed French police also raided a flat in the north Paris suburb of Saint-Denis in an operation linked to Friday's atrocities.
With both Germany and France directly affected by the continuing aftermath of last Friday’s tragedy, the DAX and CAC-40 fell by 50 and 39 points respectively.
US markets were flat overnight ahead of the publication of the minutes from the last US central bank meeting.
But oil prices rebounded after falls on Tuesday sparked by over-supply concerns. The price of a barrel of Brent crude rose 1.8% to US$44.37 and US light crude was 1.6% up at US$41.32.
Research analyst at foreign exchange trader FXTM, Lukman Otunuga, said: "The recent statement from OPEC that over-supply was at its highest in a decade is going to weigh on investors’ minds and, as a result, curb any hopes of a significant rebound in prices.
"WTI remains heavily bearish on the daily timeframe and a breakdown below $40 may open the gates for sellers to send prices towards $39."
BP (LON:BP.) was off 0.6p at 377.95p but Royal Dutch Shell (LON:RDSB) lifted 2p to 1639.5p.
Elsewhere, troubled parcel courier UK Mail (LON:UKM) plunged 39p to 325p after pre-tax profit dropped by more than half and the group warned on profits for next year.
Shares in Stratmin (LON:STGR) hardened 0.25p to 3.88p on news that the graphite producer was to receive its first payment from Bass Metals for the acquisition of a 25% stake in Stratmin’s Loharano mine in Madagascar.
UK Oil & Gas (LON:UKOG)surged 0.02p to 0.95p as it got permission to take a 20% interest in the Weald Basin licence PEDL143 in southern England.
But ECR Minerals (LON:ECR) sank 0.01p to 0.03p on news of a £250,000 placing backed by private investors and Metal Tiger (AIM:MTR). The latter's shares were flat at 0.95p.
MARKET PREVIEW
London’s blue chips are set to open lower with security set to dominate stock markets again after last week’s terrorist attack on Paris.
Financial spread bet firms sees FTSE 100 shedding 10 points to 6,251, with the mood unsettled by police raids in the French Capital and the cancellation of a football friendly in Hannover last night after a bomb scare.
US markets were flat ahead of the publication of the minutes from the last US central bank meeting.
The minutes are expected to point towards a rise in US interest rates by the end of the year after heavy hints from Fed chair Janet Yellen after the meeting.
Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 7 points to 17,639, though Nasdaq and the S&P 500 were little changed.
Asian markets mirrored the US performance with small gains in Tokyo and light declines in Hong Kong and Shanghai.