Equities

Many UK-listed stocks have got off to a flying start in 2013, with indices approaching all-time highs, but some companies have been given a rough ride by markets, destroying shareholders' capital in the process.

The government is set to push ahead with plans to privatise Royal Mail this year in a £3bn float, as profits at the group continue to impress.

Yahoo, one of the world's most popular search engines, is said to have approved a $1.1bn deal to buy blogging service Tumblr, according to reports.

The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) has announced it is to cut a further 1,400 roles across the country as part of a restructure of its support staff teams.

JAPAN

Global banking giant HSBC has warned a further 14,000 jobs are at risk over the next three years.

BT shares have rocketed this morning after the group reported forecasting-beating results which have left it ready to take on rival Sky with its broadcasting plans.

Shares in Manchester United have fallen at the start of US trading after it was announced manager Sir Alex Ferguson is to bring an end to his 26-year reign at the club at the end of this season.

Positive results from BG Group and Shell, alongside the completion of Glencore's long-running takeover of Xstrata, helped counter losses at UK engineers and propped up UK shares today.

Henderson Global Investors has managed to reverse outflows from its retail book after seeing the first net inflows into the business since Q1 2011.