FTSE 100

The last week has been one of major upheaval in the world of pensions, after George Osborne's latest Budget removed the requirement to buy an annuity, and the FCA then said it was preparing to probe closed life books. But which shares within the sector...

Shares in Lloyds Banking Group fell more than 5% this morning after the government sold another 7.8% of its stake in the bank last night.

Royal Mail, which was recently floated on the stock exchange, has announced it is scrapping a total of 1300 roles in a cost-cutting drive, with shares falling as the initial cost of the cuts spooks investors.

The Royal Bank of Scotland is in talks with the government to buy back £1.5bn of shares held by UKFI in a move which could hasten its return to the dividend register.

Asian markets suffered their worst weekly loss since 2012 as the EU and US considered sanctions against Russia following a referendum on Crimea.

The FTSE 100 index has endured its worst week since June as investors became increasingly nervous ahead of the planned referendum in Crimea due on Sunday.

Tumbling commodities prices have hit equity markets this morning, driving the FTSE 100 into the red for a fourth consecutive day.

Suggestions 2013-2014 has seen the return of a stockpickers' equity market are "rubbish", according to Threadneedle head of UK equities Simon Brazier.

The FTSE 100 got off to a positive start on Monday, with shares shrugging off weak data from both China and Japan to move higher.

Multi-asset managers are using setbacks such as that caused last week by unrest in Ukraine to increase their exposure to buoyant markets.