Commodity shares push FTSE 100 to its lowest level for a month

London's leading share index closed below 6,000 on a day when Glencore's shares were suspended twice

Renewed alarm about the fragile state of China's economy sent mining stocks plunging and wiped 44bn off the value of Britain's top companies on a day of tumultuous trading in financial markets.

Mining shares bore the brunt of the selling, with commodity companies making up five of the top 10 fallers in the FTSE 100, which closed 3% lower, some 172.87 points, at 5935.84. Glencore fell to its lowest level since it floated at 530p a share in 2011, down to 99.5p, before recovering to 106.35p, still down nearly 11% on the day.