S&P

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...

ON S&P'S DOWNGRADE OF JAPAN

Standard & Poor's has cut Japan's sovereign rating outlook to negative following the devastation caused by last month's earthquake and tsunami.

The US investment banking firm Jefferies & Co last week initiated its first quarterly publication for its clients, highlighting just how financial markets have changed in a little over two years.

Tim Geithner, the US Treasury secretary, shrugged off warnings from a leading ratings agency about the US public finances as he sought to reassure Wall Street he world's largest economy would be able to maintain its highly-prized AAA rating.

Investors have said it is unlikely a full-blown downgrade of the US will take place in the next few years following yesterday's move by S&P.

Standard & Poor's has cut its outlook for the US from stable to negative, causing the dollar and shares to tumble.