The London market closed lower after a choppy session as investors braced themselves for a potentially volatile week which will see the US Federal Reserve take a key decision on whether to raise interest rates.
The FTSE 100 Index fell 33.2 points to 6084.6 losing ground on Friday's negative close, although the market had been more than 70 points higher in this session propelled by recovering commodity stocks.
Germany's Dax was ahead, while France's Cac 40 was slightly lower. In New York the Dow Jones Industrial Average also opened lower in early trading.
Traders were preparing for a raft of announcements in coming days including UK inflation and labour market figures but the main focus is on the Fed.
A decision by US policy makers to raise rates would be a milestone on the road to ending a period when central banks have used huge stimulus measures to support economic recovery with a flood of cheap money that has also propped up shares.
But some experts think turbulence over China's slowing economic growth could prompt the Fed to postpone a hike.
Volatile mining stocks, which have been badly hit by the recent market turmoil and weakness in commodity prices, were on the front foot in the latest session pushing FTSE 100 higher earlier in the session.
Rio Tinto rose 14.5p to 2397.5p while BHP Billiton added 11p to 1068.5p although Fresnillo slipped 4p to 591.5p.
There were more signs of gloom for the UK economy as a BDO report showed despite hopes for more strong growth to close out 2015, business optimism beyond this year was continuing to slide with manufacturing sentiment at a near three year low.
It came a day ahead of official figures expected to show inflation dipping back to zero in August, meaning a continued absence of pressure on the Bank of England for a rates hike.
The pound was little changed against the US dollar at just over 1.54 while it was ahead against the euro at just over 1.36.
On a quiet day for corporate news, retailers were under pressure on the latest signs of a tough time for the sector amid recent poor weather. The British Retail Consortium reported a 1.6 per cent drop in footfall in August - the sharpest slip in nine months.
Morrisons led the FTSE 100 fallers, down more than four per cent, or 7.4p at 157.8p while Sainsbury's dropped 3.8p to 229.6p, Tesco fell 2.9p to 178.5p. Next fell 95p to 7645p while Marks & Spencer slipped 12.2p at 492.8p.
Technology firm ARM Holdings, whose chip designs help to power Apple's products, was the biggest riser following the California firm's well-received latest product launches. Shares rose 14p to 948p.
Elsewhere, Trinity Mirror was in focus after it confirmed it was in talks over a takeover of local newspaper group Local World in a reported £200 million deal. Shares rose six per cent, or 8.3p, to 147.3p.
The biggest risers in the FTSE 100 Index were ARM Holdings up 14p to 948p, International Airlines Group up 7p at 590.5p, BHP Billiton up 11p at 1068.5p and Carnival up 35p at 3420p.
The biggest fallers in the FTSE 100 Index were Morrisons down 7.4p at 157.8p at Glencore down 5.9p at 127.9p, Antofagasta down 15p at 592.5p and Marks and Spencer down 12.2p at 492.8p.
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