FTSE

Thomas Cook's share price has nosedived in early trading, with its value more than halving, after the group said it had been forced to open talks with banks to shore up its finances.

Mark Holden has revamped the Ignis UK Focus fund since taking over last month by cutting all financials exposure, reducing the number of holdings and increasing cash.

Industry figures have urged the authorities to make it tougher for companies to list in the UK, as the FTSE launches a consultation on entry rules.

Tony Raw, managing director, global sales at FTSE, talks to Clare Dickinson about how the indexing business has developed.

The FTSE Group has launched a consultation on whether it should raise its minimum free float requirement from 15% to 25%.

The Dow Jones soared above 12,000 points at open with investors buoyed by the agreement on Europe's debt crisis and soaring economic growth.

Luxury fashion house Burberry Group, a long standing favourite of Schroders' Richard Buxton, has continued to beat market expectations as the group reported a rise in revenue for the first half of the year.

Martin Currie's US manager Tom Walker has been snapping up income stocks after converting his Global Portfolio trust into a global offering.

The Federal Reserve's latest cunning plan seems to have been misinterpreted by many, but not by Mr Market. This is less of a money-printing exercise, á la QE1 and QE2, than an attempt to flatten the yield curve.

The FTSE 100 was lower mid-morning as investors waited nervously for a crucial vote in Germany on the expansion of the European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF).