Friends Provident has once again entered discussions with Resolution Limited after receiving a "sufficiently improved" bid from the Clive Cowdery-led acquisition vehicle.

The Bank of England will expand its quantitative easing measures by £50bn and will extend the range of gilts eligible for purchase.

The FTSE 100 has opened 1% higher this morning, with Lloyds once again soaring after its double-digit climb yesterday.

Schroders has recorded a £2.3bn net retail inflow in the second quarter of the year, as the asset manager's strong start to 2009 continues.

F&C Asset Management has reported a £8.7m after tax loss for the first six months of the year, with strong currency movements contributing to a £10.3bn fall in AUM.

A fund manager who claimed bullying was rife at his former employer New Star Asset Management, founded by City veteran John Duffield, has won the right to pursue a claim for compensation at an employment tribunal.

Lazard has bolstered its UK equity team with the appointment of Lloyd Whitworth.

St. James's Place will replace the management on its £414m UK and General and £388m Greater European funds.

Investec plc has announced plans to issue up to 22m new ordinary shares in efforts to repurchase its debt at a discount.

Royal London UK Mid-Cap Growth trust manager Leigh Himsworth will leave the company to become Gartmore's head of UK equities in the autumn.