Dow Jones

The Dow Jones has tumbled in early trading, down 0.65% on the back of data showing US companies cut more jobs last month than economists estimated.

The Dow Jones has opened lower this morning following news US personal income has suffered the largest drop in four years.

The FTSE 100 rolled back some of yesterday's gains this morning, with Standard Chartered among the early casualties after announcing surprise plans to issue £1bn in new shares.

The FTSE 100 reached its highest level since October 2008 this afternoon, leaping more than 75 points to reach 4695.92 points.

Miners are leading the FTSE 100 higher this morning, as Barclays announced a near £3bn pre-tax profit for the first half of 2009.

US shares gained as investors took heart from better-than-expected US GDP numbers showing the pace of economic decline is slowing.

On Wall Street, shares surged forward in early trading on the back of positive earnings reports for a number of big-name companies across the world.

London shares were in positive territory this morning, led by telecoms giant BT Group.

Financials have helped the FTSE 100 regain its winning streak, with the index up over 1% this afternoon.

The FTSE 100 has this morning begun to reclaim some of yesterday's losses, with a buoyant Schroders ahead early on the back of an upgrade from Morgan Stanley analysts.