Economics

Crispin Odey, the founder of Odey Asset Management, has said there are plenty of bargains to be had in 2012, after a "pretty horrible year" in 2011.

The eurozone could start to break apart this year with countries including Italy and Greece potentially exiting the single currency, a leading think-tank has warned.

Madrid-based hedge fund Vega Asset Management has threatened to take legal action against officials negotiating Greece's debt restructuring if its bond losses turn out to be too deep.

Investment veteran Jim Rogers has branded US treasuries as the one of the last remaining asset bubbles left in the world.

Markets have struggled to gain further ground after the European Central Bank announced it had lent almost €500bn to banks in a three-year liquidity operation.

Members of the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted unanimously to hold rates at their historic low and maintain the quantitative easing (QE) programme at £275bn - but they indicated more QE could be on the way.

Investec has told dozens of staff their jobs could be at risk via text message as part of a series of cut backs coming as it takes over Evolution, according to reports.

Ratings agency Moody's has warned the UK's prized AAA rating is at risk from the eurozone crisis despite the austerity measures taken to help retain its current status.

US stocks climbed overnight on upbeat economic data and a successful Spanish bond auction, lifting investor hopes of the fabled year-end 'Santa Claus rally'.

US markets have surged this afternoon after unexpected positive German data and a drop in Spanish borrowing costs provided some respite from the ongoing eurozone debt crisis.