ITV was the biggest faller on the London market following a slump in US media stocks on Wall Street that dragged down the free-to-air broadcaster.

The stock slipped more than three per cent, as the wider FTSE 100 Index closed down 28.6 points at 6718.5.

It came after a healthy US jobs report for last month was seen as adding to the likelihood of an interest rate rise in September by the Federal Reserve.

Investors are jittery about the fall out from the hike, and in New York the Dow Jones Industrial Average headed lower.

A partial bounce-back for the top-flight's beleaguered commodities heavyweights saved the index from further falls with Anglo American leading the risers' board.

Markets in Europe were also down after disappointing industrial production figures. Germany's Dax and France's Cac 40 were both in the red.

Sterling fell a cent against the US dollar, at just under 1.55, as the greenback was strengthened by rate hike expectations after the jobs report.

The pound was also weakened by the latest figures showing the UK trade deficit widened by £716 million to £1.6 billion in June.

The worsening picture added to fears that Britain's exports were "stuck in low gear".

Sterling also fell a cent against the euro, at 1.41.

In UK shares, the fall for ITV came after New York-listed media giants including Channel 5 owner Viacom and 21st Century Fox were hit in the previous session by signs that more people are cancelling cable TV.

ITV, which has been expanding its international content business, including acquisitions of US production studios, saw shares fall 9.3p to 262.6p. Fellow broadcaster Sky dropped 15p to 1085p.

In contrast, commodities stocks, which have been under pressure amid a slump in metals prices, were on the up.

Anglo American rose 25.1p to 800.5p, while Glencore added 3.9p to 203.2p

and Antofagasta was up 9.5p to 589.5p.

In the FTSE 250 Index, bookmaker William Hill was almost seven per cent lower after it took a £44m hit from changes to the way the Government taxes online betting and gambling machines.

It came as William Hill reported a 35 per cent fall in half-year pre-tax profits to £78.7m. Shares fell 26.6p to 384.3p.

Rival Ladbrokes - set to overtake William Hill as the country's largest bookmakers' network after a merger with Coral - climbed 1.5p to 111.4p.

Elsewhere, shares in delivery firm UK Mail were down sharply after it warned that annual profits will be as much as £10m, or 50 per cent, lower than expected after problems with the relocation of its headquarters.

The stock fell 14 per cent, or 75p, to 455p.

The biggest risers on the FTSE 100 Index were Anglo American up 25.1p at 800.5p, Mondi up 38p at 1597p, Glencore up 3.9p at 203.2p and Weir Group up 25p at 1535p.

The biggest fallers on the FTSE 100 Index were ITV down 9.3p at 262.6p, Hikma Pharamaceuticals down 81p at 2311p, Schroders down 71p at 3100p and AstraZeneca down 92p at 4320.5p.