Global

Germany has agreed to give the EU's €440bn (£383bn) bail-out fund permanent status rather than letting it expire in 2013 as planned.

A poor session in Asia this morning and unconvincing display on Wall Street overnight weighed on the FTSE 100 as it opened four points down at 5,673.

The interest rate rise in China last week, which initially unsettled global equity markets, has been seen by managers as a positive move for the sustainability of the burgeoning economy.

COMPANY REPORT

China has raised interest rates for the first time since 2007 in a bid to stifle inflation and dampen down its overheating property market.

Irish Wealth manager Bloxham has altered the investment process of the Elite Bloxham Global Equity Income fund in a bid to revive performance.

Standard Chartered's surprise £3.3bn rights issue has cast doubt on the capital requirements of the entire banking sector, Henderson financials specialist Emily Adderson says.

Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the head of the International Monetary Fund, has warned global currency disputes are a "real threat" to the economic recovery.

AFRICA

AFRICA