Greatest annual percentage fall of the FTSE 100

The FTSE 100 closed at the end of 2008 at a level of 4,423.34, down from its opening level of 6,456.90. The represents a fall of more than 30% to make it the index's worst year in its 24-year history. This is the UK's second largest slide of all time, overshadowed only by the 55.3% fall of the FTSE All-Share Index in 1974. The Financial Times Stock Exchange (FTSE) 100 Index is a share index of the UK's 100 most valuable companies listed on the London Stock Exchange, and is the most commonly used indicator of the health of the UK stock market.