Tineke Frikkee, manager of the £2.52bn Newton Higher Income fund, expects BP to resume dividend payments as early as February next year.

Emerging markets guru Mark Mobius believes fears of a double-dip recession are good for markets, as it will force global central banks to remain liquid.

Prudential CEO Tidjane Thiam says he "very much regrets" the collapse of the insurer's giant $35.5bn AIA takeover, which has cost the company £377m.

Prudential has posted a 41% jump in operating profit to £968m in the first half, well ahead of expectations.

The FTSE 100 has slid more than 2% lower this afternoon after US markets suffered even sharper losses in early Wednesday trading.

RWC Partners is poised to unveil a trio of funds for star recruits Nick Purves and Ian Lance, including a covered call strategy similar to the managers' former Schroder Income Maximiser vehicle.

Bank of England governor Mervyn King says growth is going to be weaker than previously expected and inflation is likely to above the 2% target until the end of 2011.

European markets are in retreat this morning on fresh fears for global growth sparked by a gloomy outlook from the US Federal Reserve.

US treasury yields have fallen to a 16-month low after the Fed last night outlined plans to resume its stimulus programme.

Standard Life Investments more than doubled its UK mutual fund net inflows in the first half, achieving net sales of £713m over the six-month period.