China's central bank cut benchmark interest rates for the sixth time this year in a bid to support an economy which is forecast to grow at its slowest annual rate in 25 years.

The move comes a day after the European Central Bank indicated it would extend its quantitative easing programme and cut its deposit rate in a bid to boost the eurozone's sluggish recovery.

The People's Bank of China's actions, combined with Thursday's ECB announcement and market doubts over the US Federal Reserve's commitment to raise interest rates this year, highlight a wider nervousness in official circles over the health of the global economy.