Shares Dive As Oil Prices Lowest Since 2004

Global stock markets are taking a fresh battering as oil costs continue to fall - touching levels not seen for almost 12 years. Wider European stock markets were also badly affected by the share price rout, which extended when US data showed a 0.1% dip in retail sales during the crucial December month and falling factory prices. Russia's main stock market was down more than 5% at one stage - with the ruble trading at one-year lows against the dollar following a warning by the country's prime min