FTSE

Revised US economic forecasts and disappointing GDP figures from China hit European markets in early trading on Thursday, with the FTSE falling 0.6%.

The FTSE 100 index of leading shares has dropped more than half a percentage point this afternoon following a shaky start in trading.

The FTSE opened higher at 5123.14, up 17.69 points (0.35%), helped by mining companies rebounding from recent losses.

Tineke Frikkee grew the dividend on the Newton Higher Income fund by 3.5% in the 12 months to 30 June despite prominent banks, and oil and gas firms slashing their dividends.

THE BIG QUESTION

The FTSE 100 index opened slightly up this morning, in a fragile recovery from yesterday's mammoth losses which saw it hurtle south of the 5,000 mark.

The FTSE 100 fell just under the 5,000 mark in early trading, down 1.44% to 4998.5, as investors reacted to falls for global markets in the US and Asia overnight.

Richard Watts has struggled to maintain performance on the Old Mutual Select UK Mid Cap fund since taking it over from Ashton Bradbury last year.

STRUCTURED PRODUCTS

A fall in mining shares on the back of drops in metal prices led the FTSE down 0.8% to 5,202.85 points in early trading.