FTSE 100

UK banks were making solid gains early this morning, lifting the wider FTSE 100 index, having been sold-off yesterday on eurozone fears.

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Worries over the health of sovereign nations in Europe - and in particular Spain - have pushed bond yields sharply higher during trading today, while equity markets are clinging on to gains following a strong start.

M&A

Among Investment Week's best read news stories last week were the discovery of a new acroynm; George Osborne's shock over tax dodging revelations; and a list of the funds that would have served you well in the first quarter.

Fund managers are snapping up cheap portfolio insurance ahead of an expected market pull-back, after the VIX index hit pre-recession lows in March.

European markets have paused for breath in early trading after yesterday's heavy sell off, as contagion fears in the eurozone resurfaced.

The FTSE 100 has dropped 0.8% this morning as investors get their first opportunity to act on a disappointing US jobs report on Friday.

Global markets continued their downward trend this morning as fears re-emerged about the state of European and the US economies.

The FTSE 100 has put on over 100 points in the first session of the quarter after US ISM manufacturing data beat forecasts and bolstered sentiment.