Equity markets

The S&P 500 has opened down 1.4% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average has shed 200 points in the first trading session after President Obama's election victory.

France is set to slide into recession imminently, sparking changes in government as soon as next Spring, according to Carmignac Gestion founder Edouard Carmignac.

AstraZeneca has named Pascal Soriot, Roche's chief operating officer of pharmaceuticals, as its new chief executive officer.

Academic research has found companies recognised as sector or market leaders represent "dismayingly unattractive" prospects for investors over the next decade.

China's benchmark equity index has fallen to its lowest level for three and a half years, as investors continue to fret over the impact of the global slowdown.

Barclays shares are in demand, despite the fall-out from the LIBOR scandal and Bob Diamond's resignation, with investors buying five shares for every one sold.

Stephen Hester, chief executive of Royal Bank of Scotland, has given up his £2.4m bonus for 2012 following the computer meltdown at the bailed out bank.

PIMCO's Bill Gross has told investors they will find it difficult to repeat the performance of the past 30 years, comparing Wall Street to a food chain and Europe to a "tumour".

BlackRock's Bob Doll predicts Europe's debt crisis will remain well contained, allowing global growth to continue at a modest pace.

BNP Paribas analyst Philippe Gijsels has suggested inflationary monetary policy could mean the next bull market sees the Dow Jones Industrial Average hit 100,000.