Barclays

Barclays Stockbrokers has partnered with Fidelity FundsNetwork to launch an enhanced version of its platform.

THE BIG QUESTION

The past three years have been a tumultuous time for the financials sector, which has seen a phase of deleveraging, rights issues and balance sheet repair which continues to this day.

Barclays shares shrugged off a larger than expected fall in profits this morning and a downbeat market to climb over 4% in early trading.

Economists have warned the Independent Commission on Banking (ICB)'s plans to ringfence UK banks' retail and investment divisions could threaten economic growth.

Barclays was among six global banking groups to be downgraded by Fitch last night, with the ratings agency pointing to challenging financial markets.

Barclays has offered to buy back £2.5bn worth of debt to boost its capital levels.

As the eurozone crisis reaches a crescendo, the Bank of England has revealed just how much exposure UK banks have to the region's most troubled economies.

Standard & Poor's has downgraded a raft of US and UK banks including HSBC, Barclays, and Goldman Sachs following an overhaul of its ratings criteria.

Thomas Cook shares jumped 47% on Thursday in anticipation of an announcement the travel giant has secured the £100m loan it needs to avoid going bust.