Madrid - The Ibex-35, the main index of the Madrid stock exchange, dropped 0.09 per cent after trading started Thursday morning.

The main banks evolved unevenly, with Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) and Santander up 1.24 and 0.8 per cent respectively, while Banesto fell by 1.78 per cent.

The energy company Iberdrola rose by 0.72 per cent and the oil company Repsol 1.89 per cent, while the telecommunications giant Telefonica lost 0.24 per cent.

The uneven evolution of the stocks was regarded as a sign of disorientation amid the current international market turmoil. (dpa)