UK

Barclays made a pre-tax profit of £5.879bn in the year to 31 December 2011, 3% down from the previous year and a slightly larger fall than analysts had forecast.

Shares in travel group Thomas Cook were up nearly 8% this afternoon after it reported market share remained stable and revenues were up in the fourth quarter.

Troy Asset Management's Francis Brooke has cautioned against overconfidence on BP's anticipated announcement of a dividend increase when it reports its Q4 results tomorrow morning.

ON UK GROWTH

ON UK INCOME

The FSA has begun a formal enforcement investigation into the rogue trade losses revealed by UBS last September.

Equities are likely to post gains in 2012 whatever the outcome of the sovereign debt crisis in Europe, according to Richard Peirson, manager of the £347m AXA Framlington Managed Balanced fund.

Standard Life has successfully sued its professional indemnity insurers for around £100m to recover losses related to its Pension Sterling Fund.

Brewin Dolphin saw a 6% fall in revenues over the 13 weeks to 31 December 2011, although assets under management grew, according to an interim management statement released today.

ON UK GROWTH