Around the World's Markets: London

BLUE CHIPS paused for breath after the heady 374.4 points charge and Footsie ended 50.1 lower at 5,798.3. Supporting shares were still caught in the blue chip slipstream, with the mid cap index 22.7 higher at 4,923.9.

BT was weak, off 32p to 862.5p, as its deal with AT&T attracted European Union regulators and half-year figures from its 60 per cent owned Cellnet mobile phone group failed to impress. British American Tobacco firmed 13p to 545p as it appeared the US smoking and health litigation was settled. Derek Pain, page 25