Around the world's markets: London

BLUE CHIPS fell for the fourth successive session, Footsie losing 61.3 points to 6,140.6; it was at one point off 92.2. Supporting shares also gave ground. The market was ruffled by fears that tomorrow's futures and options expiry, the last in the tax year, could be tense.

New York's failure to capitalise on the Dow hitting 10,000 was also a factor. US buying was thought to be behind a 23.5p gain to 572p by ICI; Tomkins, up 9p to 223.5p, was helped by broker comments.