Liontrust Asset Management says Manchester United must up its game by boosting the coupon on its bond to 10%.

Cazenove Capital has hired Louis Greening from Skandia as a UK advisory sales consultant.

Axa Framlington manager George Luckraft says dividends from UK oil majors are sustainable, but he will reduce holdings this year if share price rises reduce yield.

Early gains among major miners helped boost the FTSE by 34.93 points (0.64%) to 5508.41 in early trading.