Economics

HSBC's annual profits rose 15% to $21.9bn (£13.8bn) before tax, fuelled by increasing revenues from its emerging markets customer base.

The FSA has issued updated guidance on firms' use of distributor-influenced funds (DIFs).

Finance ministers from the G20 have told eurozone leaders they need to boost their own contributions to beleaguered countries before any more cash from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is granted.

Prudential is considering moving its headquarters out of the UK, partly as a response to what it fears may be an "adverse outcome" on Solvency II.

Developed economies face a minimum of two further recessions before a recovery pushes equities into bull market territory, according to SocGen's Albert Edwards.

Perma-bear Albert Edwards has called for UK corporation tax to be raised so the surpluses companies are sitting on can be used to boost the global economy, branding plans for tax cuts "stupid".

Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) shares have delivered an impressive return of 60% in the last three months amid a resurgence in risk appetite.

The decline in the UK economy was confirmed this morning after the second estimate for Q4 UK GDP came in unchanged at 0.2%.

The European Commission has warned the eurozone will be back in recession this year despite "signs of stabilisation" on the continent.

Small-cap star Harry Nimmo has revealed his investment trust took a hit from the sharp sell-off in online clothes retailer ASOS in the last six months of 2011.