London's leading share index is flat in early trading as investors keep their powder dry ahead of a number of key economic data points being released later this week.

WAY Group has acquired International Financial Data Services (IFDS)' ACD business in a deal which has made it the second largest player in the space.

Sanlam Private Investments (SPI) has added a high income fund to the group's discretionary range, which will aim to generate a 5% yield on an annualised basis.

Mining stocks have driven the FTSE 100 to a four year high, boosted by better than expected Chinese growth figures.

UK equity income funds are poised to benefit from a decline in sterling as their portfolios reap the rewards of positions in dollar-denominated dividend payers and overseas earners.

The European Union has launched a competition to find the latest dangerous financial product, in an attempt to unearth the next mis-selling scandal.

The World Bank has cut its global growth forecast for 2013, blaming sluggish growth in developed economies for the ‘fragile' and ‘uncertain' global economic recovery.

INCOME

Fund managers and strategists have begun reducing exposure to sterling, amid fears rising inflation and the threat of a UK downgrade could derail the pound.

Andrew Sykes, head of business development for J.P. Morgan's Middle East and North African business, has left the firm.