oil

The rapidly falling oil price is creating the perfect environment for a 'disinflationary boom' in asset prices, according to the managers of the Ruffer investment company.

Acknowledging that the forecasting consensus has missed many of the big stories of recent years, analysts at HSBC have attempted to outline the biggest potential risks for investors in 2015.

A volatile year ahead for investors

The steep fall in the oil price could damage growth and dividend prospects for some of the UK's biggest stocks, adding to managers' concerns over the outlook for the wider market.

Barings' global resources manager Duncan Goodwin shares his view on a volatile commodities market at this year's Investment Week Funds to Watch conference.

The Bank of Russia has taken steps to halt the collapse of the rouble, as the currency continues to hit new record lows against the US dollar and the euro on falling oil prices.

UK oil majors BP and Shell are under pressure after the price of Brent crude oil tumbled towards the $70 mark following an Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) decision not to cut production.

Has the commodity further to fall yet?

With the price of Brent crude at a four-year low, all eyes are on how OPEC will react at its crucial meeting tomorrow. In the meantime, Premier's Chris White highlights the stocks to benefit from lower prices.

Friends Life was the biggest riser in the FTSE 100 index this morning, while Aviva was the largest faller after plans for a merger between the two companies were announced on Friday.