FTSE 100

Shares in Barclays fell in early trading as investors were once again forced to deal with another potential scandal at the bank, following confirmation the SFO is investigating deals it made during the credit crisis.

Shares across Europe were lower in trading this morning as concerns mounted ahead of a key gathering of central bankers on Friday.

The FTSE 100 is drifting into lower territory this morning, with miners and Olympic security firm G4S all acting as a drag on the wider market.

European markets rose in early trading as investors awaited a meeting on Greece's future and possible anti-crisis action from policymakers.

Standard Life has risen 5.5% in early trading after impressive interim results, helping push the FTSE 100 up 0.7%.

Stamp dealership firm Stanley Gibbons plans to launch a fund investing in rare stamps later this year, allowing UK investors access to the rapid growth of this market.

With Greece heading towards default, Spain in the doldrums, and the US starting to slow, it is hard to pluck up the courage to buy shares now, but Fidelity's equities guru Dominic Rossi has highlighted five reasons why things are not all that bad.

The FTSE 100 has added 1.4% in early trading as investors consign yesterday's ECB disappointment to the past and await today's US jobs data.

London's leading index was 60 points higher in afternoon trading despite a slump in UK manufacturing data, as Next and Standard Chartered lifted the market.

The FTSE 100 has added 1.2% to move back towards 5,700 as global markets anticipate concrete policy action to protect the euro later this week.