Economics

UK firms made the largest cash payout this quarter since 2008, Capita Registrar's latest dividend report has shown.

Yesterday's new rescue package for Greece will be the first of many, according to Stuart Thomson, chief economist at Ignis, who added Europe's next problem will be recessions in Spain and Italy.

Anthony Cross' bearish views on retail banks and UK consumer-facing stocks are driving returns on the Liontrust Special Situations fund, which has seen assets grow from £13m last June to £131m.

Barings' Andrew Cole has slashed the equity weighting on his £28.1m Multi Asset fund by 15% in favour of government bonds as his team becomes increasingly risk averse.

EU leaders have agreed a further €109bn (£96bn) bailout for Greece, one-third of which will come from private sector bondholders.

Angelos Damaskos, manager of the £54m Junior Oils Trust, has bucked the trend to move defensive over the summer by increasing his equity exposure by 20%.

FRIDAY FINANCE

Income stars such as Neil Woodford and Bill Mott are set for boosts to their portfolios as AstraZeneca jumped over 3% this morning following the approval of a drug the pharma giant pinned $2bn of future sales.

The threat of a stock market crash has risen to a "one in three" chance, the chief executive of the respected Centre for Economics and Business Research has warned.

News Corp's shares jumped 5.5% following yesterday's parliamentary hearing with the group's chiefs Rupert and James Murdoch.