Equities

This has not been a good year for President Obama. His opinion poll ratings have fallen as worries about entrenched unemployment have risen.

This quarter has been a tough one for the fund management industry as continuing uncertainty over the eurozone debt crisis hit sales and dragged down assets under management.

German insurer Allianz has seen profits fall 80% in the third quarter as the impact of investments in European banks, and Greece, impacted returns.

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Eurozone leaders need to act within the next few days or it will be "game over" for the euro, warned Kames Capital's Phil Milburn.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has approved rules making it harder for overseas firms to list in the US via mergers with shell companies - a move advocated by Fidelity's Anthony Bolton earlier this year.

Credit ratings agency Moody's has given the European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF) 10-year €3bn benchmark bond an Aaa rating.

Fears of France and Spain being the next to suffer in the eurozone debt crisis intensified as 10-year bond spreads reached euro-era highs above German yields yesterday.

Germany and France have begun preliminary talks about a possible break-up of the eurozone, according to reports, amid fresh fears about the future of Italy after the nation's cost of borrowing hit a new record.

Neil Woodford has revealed his "increasing concern" about the situation in the eurozone as he warns of a European credit crunch and the risk of the UK following Europe into recession next year.