The Co-operative Group has reported more than half a billion pounds worth of losses in the first half, after sizeable write-offs at its troubled banking arm.

Brazil has raised its benchmark interest rate to 9% from 8.5% in a further attempt to rein in inflation, following the dramatic sell-off in the country's currency.

Sterling dropped and then recovered sharply minutes after new Bank of England Governor Mark Carney told the world he has no plans to raise rates any time soon, but was upbeat on UK growth.

J.P. Morgan could be hit with a fine of more than $6bn from US authorities as they pursue the bank over sales of securities to government-backed mortgage companies.

Markets around the world sold off overnight while oil continued to soar, as the prospect of military involvement in Syria's civil war grows.

The FTSE 100 was off around 1% this morning while oil prices climbed, as unrest in the Middle East threatens to escalate.

Fidelity Worldwide Investments has launched an income version of Ian Spreadbury's reduced duration bond fund.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has written to advisers asking them why they failed to comply to its redress scheme rules in reporting back on the number of eligible Arch Cru claimants they had on their books.

Improving factory data and a sliding yen helped lift Japanese shares overnight, amid a positive session for Asian markets in general.

Guy Monson, CIO of Sarasin & Partners, has outlined a number of key risks which could impact rising global equity markets as we head into 2014, amid the well-flagged move by the US central bank to wind down QE.