THE market paused for breath today after three sessions of gains, and slipped lower in early trading.

After an hour dealing the FTSE 100 Index was down 25.3 points at 4177.4, and falling back from a near 70 points jump in the first three minutes of trading.

The subdued start comes after one of the biggest day's gains on record shares yesterday soared 4.6 per cent, or 186 points.