LONDON (AFP) – London stocks ended down on Tuesday as news of a 0.6 percent fall in wholesale prices across the Atlantic shook the market.

The FTSE 100 index dropped 0.72 percent to 5,243.40 points.

Barclays was the most traded stock with traders exchanging 168 million shares, followed by Royal Bank of Scotland which saw 164 million units switch hands.

Retailer Sainsbury was the session&&9;s star performer gaining 17.7 pence -- or 5.36 percent -- to finish at 347.8.

Pearson added 36.5 pence -- or 4.44 percent -- to stand at 858 american family insurance.5.

The top casualties were Autonomy Corp, falling 138 pence -- or 8.65 percent -- to finish at 1457. Barclays was down 18.3 pence -- or 4.79 percent -- to end at 363.75.

Sterling gained ground against both the euro and the dollar.

At 15:58, sterling was trading at $1.6427, up from $1.6423 at Monday&&9;s close. The pound climbed against the euro, rising to 1.1003, up from 1.0959 over the same period.

FTSE 100 down