FTSE 100

US markets followed shares across Europe higher overnight, while the dollar also surged, ahead of the latest Federal Reserve meeting in the States which may map out a QE exit strategy.

Equity income stocks could be among the biggest losers from an environment in which investors prepare for a tapering of US QE, investors have warned.

UK MID CAPS

Sharp share price falls from a number of financials have sent the FTSE 100 lower today, with the index approaching a four-month low.

A lack of further easing from the Japanese authorities coupled with fears over QE in Europe rattled markets today, sending the FTSE 100 to a seven-week low, with asset managers some of the biggest fallers.

INFRASTRUCTURE

Wall Street extended losses on Wednesday as fears deepened that the Federal Reserve will pull back its quantitative easing programme.

Hedge fund manager Man Group's shares nosedived on Wednesday, after its flagship hedge fund AHL reported one of its biggest weekly losses.

Supermarket giant Tesco suffered another fall in sales in the UK in the first quarter of this year as the business continues to struggle to regain momentum amid the economic slowdown and the recent horsemeat scandal.

EUROPE