The yield on 1-year German bunds turned negative today for the first time ever, according to Bloomberg data, as the European Central Bank looks set to ramp up measures to fight the debt crisis.

Today the People's Bank of China (PBC) has slashed reserve requirements for all banks by 50 basis points from December 5.

Struggling Hungary has moved to raise its benchmark interest rate from 6% to 6.5%, the highest ever level seen in the European Union, in order to protect its currency.

Chancellor George Osborne has announced a programme of support for small and medium-sized businesses, which will include encouraging them to tap the bond markets for funding.

George Osborne's Autumn Statement today has revealed a further increase to the levy on bank borrowing in the UK while he ruled out plans for a Financial Transaction Tax (FTT).

Investors should ready themselves for a stronger gold price correction, said investment veteran Jim Rogers.

Japanese bank Nomura has slashed assets linked to Italy by 83%, among other cuts, on debt crisis fears, Bloomberg reports.

The European equity fund market has nearly halved in size since 2007, slimming down to €314bn in assets under management at the end of September 2011, according to a Fitch report.

Fitch has become the third ratings agency to downgrade the outlook for the US, from stable to negative, following a congressional committee's failure to finalise deficit cuts.

Barclays Capital's Jason Smith is backing UK and Chinese government bonds over German bunds in his Research Analysis Driven Absolute Return (RADAR) fund.