Share prices fell sharply once again on international markets, with the weaker dollar feeding fears that overseas earnings by US high technology stocks will be hit by the weaker American currency.

European markets were hit by a weak opening session in New York which saw the Dow Jones fall by 130 points before the index bounced back in mid-afternoon trading.

Share prices in Dublin fell but dealers said that there was no great rush to sell, with prices being marked down to reflect movements on international markets. In London, the FTSE fell for the fourth consecutive session, dropping by just over 50 points to 4854.8