LONDON, Sept. 4 (Xinhua) -- UK shares continue its slide down on Thursday as data and forecasts points to a lower growth in the United States and the eurozone stirred a gloomy sentiment in the market.
The FTSE 100 index closed down 137.6 points, 2.5 percent at 5,362.1 taking its loss over the past two sessions to 4.6 percent amid continuing economic concern.
Banks were the main losers as UK and ECB interest rates were hold to 5 percent, with the HBOS down 7 percent, Barclays 6 percent lower.
Marks 7 Spencer was another big loser, down 5 percent.
Leisure group Whitbread, however, gained 0.6 percent after the leisure firm, which runs hotel chain Premier Inn and Costa Coffee, reported a rise in sales.
