Economics

Asian stock markets swung between losses and gains overnight after a slowdown in Chinese trade data.

Some of the UK's largest asset managers could face more onerous financial requirements after regulators unveiled proposals to subject fund giants to greater scrutiny.

Shares in some of the UK's leading retailers - including Morrisons and Tesco - were tumbling this morning as poor Christmas trading impacted retail bellwethers.

The Federal Reserve saw jobs growth in the US as the trigger to begin tapering QE, and has raised its economic growth forecast, the minutes of the last Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting reveal.

Analysts at Canaccord Genuity have raised their price target for Aberdeen Asset Management by more than 10% following its deal to buy Scottish Widows Investment Partnership (SWIP).

J.P. Morgan Asset Management's chief markets strategist - former BBC economics editor Stephanie Flanders - forecasts better times ahead for global markets in 2014.

The US dollar is closing in on a five-year high versus the yen, with gold heading towards a one-year low, ahead of the release of minutes from the Federal Reserve's historic December meeting.

Janet Yellen has been voted in by the US Senate to become the first woman to lead the Federal Reserve.

Japan's Nikkei index slid for the second day in a row on Tuesday, after weak economic data in the US made investors wary of taking on risk.

ON UK EQUITIES