UK

Shares in travel operator Thomas Cook jumped this morning after the firm outlined a further raft of cost-cutting measures.

M&G broke its own records in 2012 to post soaring inflows and AUM at an all-time high, according to its full-year results, but expects sales in the UK to slow this year.

Britain is on track for a triple-dip recession, one of the nation's leading forecasters has signalled, as new figures on the UK's manufacturing industry dealt a blow to recovery hopes and sent sterling crashing to a fresh two-and-a-half year low.

Miton is preparing to add a new product to its stable for the two managers it recently poached from Matterley.

Brooks Macdonald's acquisition of Spearpoint helped drive a 44% rise in FUM in the second half of last year, although the firm continues to count the cost of RDR.

AXA IM's Nigel Thomas has added to his position in wealth manager St James's Place, whose shares have fallen 4% today as Lloyds Banking Group placed a 20% stake in the business into the market.

Troy's Trojan Income fund manager Francis Brooke has sold his position in Aberdeen Asset Management after its share price doubled in the space of 12 months.

Chancellor George Osborne's Budget next week runs the risk of being a "dangerous missed opportunity" if he sticks to his guns on austerity, leading economist Roger Bootle (pictured) has said.

EQUITIES

Andrew Tyrie, the chairman of the Treasury Select Committee (TSC), has written to the Financial Services Authority over a decision by the Bank of Ireland to raise mortgage interest rates.