It was another erratic session in London's stock market yesterday, with the leaders bouncing around and looking uncomfortable for much of the morning before a volatile afternoon. There was another "blue-sky" display by many of the Internet, Internet-related and hi-tech stocks that has surprised some of the most hard-bitten traders.

Dealers said the market's weak showing at the close was a reflection of the possibility of a rate rise after the two-day meeting of the Bank of England's monetary policy committee, which starts today. Turnover in equities was 1.89 billion shares.