Markets in Europe were off sharply.

The FTSE fell 1.5% to 6,131. Barclays (BCS) fell 3.6% to 497.75. Northern Rock fell 11.9% to 85.5. Vodafone (VOD) fell 3.1% to 186.6.

The DAXX was off 1.9% to 7,487. Commerzbank fell 3.7% to 24.18. Metro fell 3.7% to 61.95.

The CAC 40 fell 2.1% to 5,393. Alcatel-Lucent (ALU) fell 5.7% to 4.98. Societe Generale fell 4.3% to 96.25.

Data from Reuters

Douglas A. McIntyre