London’s leading stocks endured their worst annual falls in at least 24 years, while in Europe and Asia, some markets ended the year by notching up their worst performances since records began.

The FTSE 100 lost 30.9 per cent in 2008, finishing the year at 4,434.17. This was the blue-chip index’s worst annual fall since it was created in 1984 and substantially more than its previous biggest yearly loss of 24.5 per cent in 2002. The FTSE All Share index fell 32.8 per cent over the year, its worst annual fall since losing 55.3 per cent in 1974.