European Shares Slide, Led By Banks & Commodities

Across Europe, Britain`s FTSE 100, Germany`s DAX and France`s CAC-40 were down between 5.8 and 6.3 percent.

At 1010 GMT, the FTSEurofirst 300 index of leading European shares was down 5.5 percent at 1,029.24, having fallen as far as 1,025.42 points, or 5.9 percent.

Across Europe, Britain's FTSE 100, Germany's DAX and France's CAC-40 were down between 5.8 and 6.3 percent.

Financials were lower after governments across Europe were forced over the weekend to take measures to prop up banks and insurers.

Anglo Irish Bank was down 19.4 percent; Aegon was down 19.7 percent; Dexia was off 19.4 percent.

Miners were lower, as metals prices fell. Kazakhmys and Eurasian Natural Resources Corp. were 18.4 and 19.5 percent lower respectively.

With oil falling 4 percent to just over $90 a barrel, BP, was down 5.8 percent; ENI was off 6.8 percent.