European markets have opened very strongly this morning with the DJ Euro Stoxx 600 up 1% and the FTSE All-Share up 1.3%.

The Bank of England today kept its key lending rate at a record low of 0.5%.

The FTSE opened buoyantly, up more than 49 points to 5,158.28, on the back of strong performance from mining companies, due to higher metal prices because of the weak dollar.

J.P. Morgan Asset Management's (JPMAM) head of UK operations, Campbell Fleming, is joining Threadneedle as head of distribution.

More than 40% of smaller employers in the UK would consider closing their existing pension schemes for the potentially less-generous Personal Accounts, a study suggests.

The Dow Jones opened higher in early trading on Friday with Procter & Gamble heading up the winner's table.

Lloyds Banking Group, the part-nationalised banking group, confirmed today that it has gone into talks with the Treasury about changing the terms of its participation in the Government's insurance scheme for toxic assets.

European Union leaders are to urge the threat of "sanctions" for banks that pay excessive bonuses.

The beleaguered UK economy is showing signs of growth after four quarters of contraction, Bank of England governor Mervyn King says.

Jupiter Investment Management Holdings has appointed former M&G group finance director Philip Johnson to the newly-created role of chief financial officer (CFO).