Markets

Asian stocks rose overnight, driven higher by the Nikkei which reversed sharp losses on Friday after climbing over 2%.

The Chancellor George Osborne is expected to step back from plans to break-up the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) amid an expected outcry from some shareholders.

A planned deal which would create one of the largest asset managers in Europe grabbed our readers' attention this week.

Aberdeen Asset Management has confirmed rumours it is in talks to buy Scottish Widows Investment Partnership (SWIP) in a deal which would make it the largest listed fund management firm in Europe.

UK GDP growth was 0.8% in the third quarter of the year, according to the first estimate from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Bank of England Governor Mark Carney has promised to keep interest rates lower for longer, ahead of the release of UK GDP growth data for the third quarter.

The FTSE 100 opened above 6,700 on Friday as a pick-up in Chinese manufacturing data boosted mining stocks.

UBS has upgraded Aberdeen Asset Management from neutral to buy after the group confirmed it is in talks to buy Scottish Widows Investment Partnership (SWIP).

Shares in Aberdeen Asset Management have jumped more than 5% in afternoon trading, after the group confirmed it is in talks to acquire Scottish Widows Investment Partnership (SWIP).

Aberdeen Asset Management has said it is in discussion with Lloyds Banking Group over a possible acquisition of Scottish Widows Investment Partnership.