London - Across-the-board falls in share prices Thursday accounted for a 5-per-cent drop in the Financial Times Share Index (Footsie) in London which closed at a 5-year-low.

Analysts said not only financial shares, but all sectors from from construction to mining and tourism, were affected by the downward trend fuelled by fears over a looming recession.

The Footsie closed down with a loss of 218.2 points at 3,861.4 points, dropping below the psychologically important 4,000 barrier.

Paris - Following big losses overnight on Wall Street and in Asia, French shares slumped on Thursday as fears of a deep recession turned investors bearish.

The Paris Bourse's CAC 40 blue-chip index ended the day off by 5.92 per cent, at 3,181, as declining issues outpaced advancing shares by 9 to 1.

Insurance giant Axa was the day's biggest loser, plunging by 12.51 per cent to 16.33 euros. Industrial group Bouygues and transport manufacturer Alstom gave up 11.1 and 10.15 per cent, respectively.

Beijing - China's main stock market index lost more than 4 per cent on Thursday as shares followed the global fall after more bad news from Wall Street on Wednesday.

Paris - After losing more than 6 per cent of their value shortly after opening, French shares mounted a spirited fightback early Tuesday despite big losses on Wall Street and in Asia.

One hour after trading opened, the Paris Bourse's CAC 40 blue-chip index was down 2.09 per cent, at 3,310.52, as declining issues outpaced advancing shares by about 12 to 1.

Because of mounting fears of a recession, industrials were hardest hit, with steel giant ArcelorMittal and steel maker Vallourec both down more than 5 per cent.

Seoul - Shares nosedived Thursday on the Seoul stock exchange, sending the benchmark Kospi Index down more than 9 per cent in the biggest percentage loss in seven years, as worries over a global e

London - The Financial Times Share Index (Foo