UK

Royal Dutch Shell has seen a $2bn (£1.25bn) drop in third-quarter profits as costs across the business have soared.

Henderson Global Investors saw a net inflow of £1.2bn into its retail funds in Q3, driven by its equity fund range which saw a positive flow for the first time since 2011.

Standard Life Investments has reported a record level of third party AUM as net inflows continue despite the loss of key personnel.

Barclays' pre-tax profits have fallen 26% in Q3 as a drop in trading revenue and its ongoing restructuring programme hit growth.

Lloyds Bank has reported growing profits for the first nine months of the year as it starts down the path to reprivatisation, but continues to suffer from the impact of ongoing PPI claims.

Former Skandia proposition director Richard Vincent has joined Threadneedle to develop the group's multi-asset proposition.

The chief executive of taxpayer-backed Lloyds Banking Group is set to be awarded a bonus worth about £2.5m next month as the lender continues its recovery from the 2008 financial crisis.

EQUITIES

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.

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.