Markets

It has been an uncomfortable summer for investors as the credit crisis from 2008 continues to plague markets, this time in the guise of a sovereign debt crisis. But how have markets really coped?

US markets opened lower this afternoon, following falls across Europe today as fears of a Greek default resurfaced once more.

Stocks ended six consecutive days of gains in the US as investors took profits ahead of a key jobs report out later today.

The FTSE 100 is expected to extend gains made in the past few days after Asian and American markets climbed overnight on positive US economic data.

Shares in software giant Autonomy soared this morning after it confirmed last night it had received an $11bn offer from Hewlett-Packard.

The UK government is understood to be prepared to shoot down proposals for a financial transaction tax being mooted by Germany and France.

Asian shares rose for a third day but closed lower than expected as European leaders failed to reveal specific plans to tackle the debt crisis after a meeting yesterday.

Updated: The FTSE 100 got off to a weak start on Friday but stablised by mid-morning following efforts in several European countries to calm volatility in share trading.

US markets yesterday managed to recover some of their losses from the previous seven days as better than expected jobs data boosted sentiment.

A deal by US lawmakers to raise the country's debt ceiling passed its first hurdle last night but failed to lift shares after dreadful manufacturing data.