Economics

The FTSE 100 has had the best start to a year since 1999 as investors pour billions back into global equities.

The US Treasury has ruled out minting a $1 trillion dollar platinum coin as a way to circumvent the need to raise its national borrowing limit next month.

2012 was a particularly tough year for some sectors, notably commodities and gold, as fears over global growth weighed on demand for materials.

Two executives at Royal Bank of Scotland are reportedly under pressure to step down as US and UK regulators are concerned about the culture of the investment banking division at the bank.

The Japanese government has approved a fresh 10.3 trillion yen ($116bn; £72bn) stimulus package to shore up its flagging economy.

Today the MPC left interest rates untouched for another month in a widely expected move, while leaving quantitative easing on hold, but calls for the Bank to take a more pro-active approach to boost growth are getting louder.

The FTSE 100 closed at its highest level since May 2008 yesterday as investors continued to snap up cyclical names, including the UK's semi state-owned banks.

BLUE CHIPS

The euro crisis is over, according to European Commission president José Manuel Barroso.

Global equity markets have eased back from last week's highs despite European financials rallying after regulators softened proposed new rules.