UK

The departure of Halfords CEO David Wild has seemingly cheered investors but analyst sentiment is less clear-cut.

Moody's has downgraded the credit rating of financial services group Close Brothers, pointing to the rapid growth of its loan book and its exposure to the flagging UK economy.

Active managers who use short-term volatility to back their convictions are better placed than ever to prove their worth, according to Simon Brazier, head of UK equities at Threadneedle.

Liontrust has chalked up its eighth successive quarter of net inflows for the three months to 30 June 2012 as it builds on its acquisition of Walker Crips.

The Bank of England said it may reconsider the case for cutting interest rates once the impact of the new funding for lending scheme becomes clear.

HSBC has apologised to the US Senate after the bank was found to have allowed drug money to be laundered through its accounts.

Invesco Perpetual's Neil Woodford has given his backing to G4S chief executive Nick Buckles, saying the group's failure to deliver on its Olympic commitments is the fault of local management.

Bank of England deputy governor Paul Tucker came under fire again today as an email emerged showing he had discussed LIBOR rates with HSBC and RBS, as well as Barclays, back in 2008.

Henderson Global Investors has acquired French property asset management firm Horizon Investment Management.

Bank of England governor Mervyn King will appear before MPs at the House of Commons this morning to give evidence on the UK's financial stability and the state of the economy.