AstraZeneca, a stalwart of many income portfolios including Neil Woodford's, has said it will raise its dividend by 10% despite sounding an earnings warning for 2012.

Glencore and Xstrata are in advanced talks about a $80bn merger that could reshape the mining industry.

A UK bond trader has pleaded guilty to overstating the value of mortgage-backed bonds when working at Credit Suisse at the start of the financial crisis.

EQUITY INCOME

The chief executive of Royal Bank of Scotland Stephen Hester has bowed to mounting public anger and agreed to give up a £1m bonus.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy has unveiled plans to introduce a tax on financial transactions.

Investors cannot be counted on to make rational choices so regulators need to "step into their footprints" and limit or ban the sale of potentially harmful products, the head of the UK's new consumer protection watchdog said.

The FSA has launched a consultation on regulations for hedge funds and private equity firms that will form the basis for tough new rules on pay.

Charles Stanley's third quarter revenues dropped for the three months to 31 December 2011 to £27.3m, from £32.2m during the same period the previous year, as trading conditions remain tough.

Carmignac's chairman Edouard Carmignac has warned economic growth could weaken as a direct result of the financial transactions tax if it is given the go-ahead.