Economics

The continued rise in US treasury yields has raised concerns the broader economic recovery may be under threat if the sell-off continues.

The FTSE 100 has shed 40 points in early trading to move back towards the 6,400 mark, compounding losses suffered in recent days.

Fears over the end of QE in the US and stronger data from the eurozone caused UK and US government bond yields to jump on Monday, surprising investors.

BIG QUESTION

ECONOMICS

S&P Capital IQ is to explore strategic alternatives for its fund research business following an internal review.

Leading UK companies' profits dropped 34% over the year to end-March, according The Share Centre's Profit Watch UK research report.

Taxpayer-owned Royal Bank of Scotland could miss its end-2013 deadline to sell 316 branches, a potential bidder has said.

US consumer inflation increased in July, hitting the Federal Reserve's 2% target rate and keeping it on track to taper bond purchases as early as next month.

The FTSE has tumbled as much as 2% as US ten-year yields touch two-year highs in expectation of an imminent slowdown of the Federal Reserve's quantitative easing programme.