Around the World's Markets: MOSCOW

RUSSIAN shares slid further as investor apathy left the market drifting and turnover reduced. The benchmark RTS1-Interfax index fell by 2.9 per cent; the broader Reuters Russian composite was off 3.64 per cent to 446.22.

Traders said allegations of corruption by Russian officials, an inquiry into a suspected Russian money-laundering operation, and the conflict in Dagestan sidelined investors. They also said Merrill Lynch's cut in its rating of the Russian market to "underperform" further soured sentiment.