US stocks slumped overnight, pressuring the Dow Jones Industrial Average near to a four-month low, as political concerns in Greece continued to cloud the outlook for the global economy.

BNP Paribas analyst Philippe Gijsels has suggested inflationary monetary policy could mean the next bull market sees the Dow Jones Industrial Average hit 100,000.

AXA Framlington UK Select Opportunities manager Nigel Thomas has highlighted a US manufacturing renaissance as one of the key themes in his portfolio this year.

AN APR FOR FUNDS?

Senior executives at Lehman Brothers knew of the risks which led to the investment bank's collapse, and chose to ignore warning signs as early as 2007, according to new documents.

ECONOMICS

Our most read stories of the week featured a look at how sterling's rise is affecting the UK, the FSA's latest action over Arch cru, and Hugh Hendry and Albert Edwards warning on two imminent crises.

Oil major BP saw profits fall in the first quarter of the year, led by its downstream business, but has held its dividend at 8 cents per share.

US GDP for the first quarter of 2012 rose 2.2%, undershooting analysts' forecasts.

HSBC is to cut 2,000 jobs in the UK by the end of next year as part of its cost-cutting drive, according to reports.