Markets

Sterling fell 1% against the dollar and euro this lunchtime, as rate rise expectations were pushed back, with just one MPC member voting for an increase this month.

Old Mutual Wealth has reported a 26% jump in profits and 92% higher net client cash flows in the first half of the year, largely driven by investors taking advantage of the group's drawdown facility following the pension reforms.

Aviva Investors has posted "inadequate profits" once again in the first half of 2015, down 22% from the figure for the same period last year, despite a slowdown in outflows.

Legal & General Investment Management (LGIM) has seen a 12% jump in assets under management, boosted by the expansion of its international business in the first half of the year, despite a fall in advisory assets.

UK economic growth will slow down in the third quarter of the year, the National Institute of Economic and Social Research said, halving a previous estimate.

Speculative investors such as hedge funds stocked up on as much as 60% of the shares released in yesterday's RBS sale as they took advantage of the bargain price offered by the government.

It seems like Martin Wheatley's leaving present to the industry is an attempt to tackle the cash deposit market and easier transfers of cash ISAs.

The government has reduced its stake in RBS by 5.4%, selling 630 million shares for £2.1bn in a quick-fire sale to institutional investors.

Shares in Standard Life fell 3% in early morning trading as half yearly results revealed a drop in annuities sales had hit the Edinburgh-based group's profits.

Don't blame the dividend