FTSE down on fears over US economy

Persimmon posted the biggest gains with a rise of 2.64% to £14.37, closely followed by Smith & Nephew which advanced 1.25% to 648p, while Home Retail added 0.96% to 448p. Rolls-Royce Group climbed 0.93% to 488.5p, while Imperial Tobacco Group added 0.72% to £22.31, although gains were offset by miner Antofagasta which declined 2.35% to 508.5p. Insurer Prudential was the biggest loser with a fall of 2.63% to 723p, closely followed by British Airways which slipped 2.61% to 504.5p, while Whitbread dropped 2.53% to £18.88, and Unilever declined 2.44% to £14.80. In the US, the Dow Jones In...