Figures from web monitor Hitwise show that UK internet searches for 'ftse' increased by a staggering 223 per cent last week, when financial markets all over the world went into meltdown.

"The fact that we saw searches for 'financial news' double last week proves that people in the UK are clearly concerned about the economy," commented Robin Goad, Director of Research at Hitwise.

Searches for Societe Generale, the company at the centre of the rogue trading scandal quadrupled after news emerged that Jerome Kerviel lost the bank £3.7bn.

Hitwise also found that the Daily Mail's website was the most popular newspaper website in the week ending 26 January, despite traffic to the FT's website increasing by 18 per cent after the stock market crash.

The Sun, Times Online and Guardian Unlimited followed the Daily Mail in the online newspaper rankings - the Sun seeing the largest increase in traffic due to the video of Amy Winehouse allegedly taking drugs.

Heath Ledger was the fifth most popular search term in the UK last week after the Brokeback Mountain star tragically died at the age of 28.

www.hitwise.com

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