Economics

The Conservatives are said to be planning to merge national insurance into income tax in a major shake-up of the current tax system.

The outgoing Bank of England (BoE) deputy governor Sir Charlie Bean has said it is "reasonable" to expect interest rates to return to 5% within a decade.

Asian markets were mixed overnight ahead of a busy week data-wise, with the impact of Japan's sales tax introduced earlier this year keeping a lid on gains.

Bank of England Governor Mark Carney has said the 'new normal' for interest rates in the UK will be around 2.5%, a level he predicted they may reach by 2017.

SW Mitchell Capital's Stuart Mitchell, manager of the SWMC European fund, highlights three investment themes he noted following meetings with management teams at European companies.

UK shares held on to modest gains this morning after the final reading for UK GDP growth in the first quarter was held at 0.8%.

Japan's Nikkei fell overnight as concerns over weak US growth figures hit the country's export sector.

The FTSE 100 had a "historic" day yesterday after global mining giant Glencore appointed its first female director.

Barclays' share price has fallen 5% this morning following news US prosecutors has initiated a fraud case against the bank.

Fund managers have backed financials, retailers, and housebuilders to benefit following the latest move down in UK inflation.