Investors are bracing themselves for one of the most difficult years in stock market history after new figures showed more than $5 trillion (£2.7 trillion) was wiped off the value of shares across the globe in January alone. The loss represents one of the worst starts to a year since records began - a stark indication that markets anticipate a global recession that could last for several years. In London, the FTSE 100 lost £77bn in one day alone - 21 January - in frenetic dealing dubbed a second Black Monday after the great crash of 1987. Although shares have since stabilised somewhat, there is still turmoil in the banking and finance sector.
Tags: black monday, FTSE 100, Stock Exchange, Stock Market