LONDON

BRITAIN’S top share index suffered its sharpest fall in two weeks on Tuesday, as concerns over materials demand in top consumer China hit commodities-linked sectors, marring a rally that had been part-driven by hopes for improving global growth.

The benchmark FTSE 100 Index closed down 69.70 points, or 1.2%, at 5,891.41, having rallied more than 6% since the start of the year and after hitting an eightmonth peak last week.

Miners, which account for a large part of the index, retreated 3.6% after the world’s biggest, BHP Billiton, said it was seeing evidence of “flattening” iron ore demand from China.

While miners were the biggest losers on the day, the suggestion of economic slowdown in the world’s secondlargest economy also weighed on other sectors. – Reuters