Stock Market

A sharp retreat in miners on sinking metal prices and worry about a tax from Australia and weakness in banks on fears about US curbs pushed Britain's top share index 1.6 percent lower by the close on Thursday. The FTSE 100 index ended 85.70 points lower at 5,335.10, its lowest since December 22. The index closed down 1.7 percent the previous session, pressured by signs that China might tighten fiscal policy.