FTSE 100

The introduction of exchange-traded funds that are cheap, transparent and easy to trade has heralded a recent explosion in the number of different types of strategies available to the investor.

Mark Lyttleton is probably the one name that comes to most people's lips when describing a successful, popular implementation of an explicitly absolute return strategy. His fund's record is of consistent positive net of fees returns through the market...

The FTSE is up 0.71% to 5,198.05 in early trading as it tries to shake off a wobbly performance yesterday as uncertainty about the Greek bail-out plan weighed on European markets.

The Dow Jones has opened more than 1.2% higher in early trading as investors reacted positively to signs Greece could get help from the European Union.

The FTSE recovered some of last week's losses in early trading, rising 37.28 points (0.7%) to 5,098.20 with gains from miners and banks.

The FTSE 100 opened slightly down, dipping 0.02% or 0.84 points to 5,246 in early trading, as BP posted worse then expected fourth quarter results.

The FTSE was marginally down by 0.04% to 5186.60, despite strong gains by utilities in early trading.

At the start of 2009 markets were in freefall, there were concerns about financial and economic meltdown and the last place you wanted exposure to was smaller companies with their higher risk and greater exposure to the domestic economy.

The FTSE climbed 0.72% in early trading to 5255.18 bolstered by strong performances from big names.

The FTSE fell in early trading, dragged down by negative market sentiment towards resources firms.