S&P

FRIDAY FINANCE

The Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke has ramped up pressure on Congress to agree on its debt ceiling level, in light of rating agencies S&P's and Moody's threats to cut the US' triple-A debt rating.

FRIDAY FINANCE

Fund research director Guy Boden has left Standard & Poor's to join Stamford Associates as an institutional analyst.

US markets reversed falls on Monday after a period of consecutive weak sessions fuelled by concerns over the end of quantitative easing.

With 2010 proving a difficult year for equity income, the first quarter of 2011 has provided some hope for the sector, writes Peter Brunt, analyst at S&P Fund Services.

European markets climbed this morning on news IMF head Dominique Strauss-Kahn had resigned following sex crime allegations.

S&P has downgraded Greece's credit rating by two notches on default fears, while Moody's and Fitch are also preparing to cut its further, according to reports.

Silver futures have recovered from the worst weekly drop since 1975, gaining 4.4% Monday to reach $37 an ounce.

With stronger than expected inflation readings in the eurozone, China and the US this month and the UK continuing to dramatically overshoot its inflation target, investors should be looking to protect their portfolios from the consequences of continued...