Markets

The amount of private wealth held by households rose by 14% last year, fuelled by rising stock markets.

The FTSE 100 opened above 6,700 on Friday as a pick-up in Chinese manufacturing data boosted mining stocks.

The FTSE 100 continued to recover today as banks lifted the index higher on signs that some of the instability in Europe is coming to an end.

Cyprus' plan for an unprecedented 10% tax on savers has been dubbed a "monumental error of judgement" by one commentator, but it does leave some assets looking attractive.

Wall Street opened higher today as optimism from early-stage talks in Congress about tackling the US fiscal cliff spread to markets worldwide.

Key Asian markets showed resilience from global growth fears as the main Hong Kong and Chinese stock markets rallied strongly overnight, though Japanese stocks bucked the trend.

Global markets sold off this morning as bullish sentiment over central bank moves showed signs of losing momentum.

The FTSE 100 looks set to replicate the falls seen in Asian markets overnight as weak manufacturing data from China dragged on shares and sent metal prices downwards.

Asian markets continued the global stock market rally, following yesterday's unveiling of the ECB's bond buying plans, with some indices up 3.8%.

European stocks are climbing after a four day sell-off, following a pledge from European Central Bank president Mario Draghi that the ECB will "do whatever it takes to preserve the euro".