News

US markets have opened lower as investors take a dim view of Hewlett Packard's latest acquisition and send its shares down 20%.

Richard Buxton, Schroders' head of UK equities and manager of the £2.9bn UK Alpha Plus fund, has seen his holding in Autonomy sky-rocket today after an audacious bid from Hewlett-Packard.

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

Jupiter has revealed pre-tax profits more than doubled in the first six months of 2011 as AUM stood firm in the face of choppy markets.

French regulators have failed in an attempt to extend the short-selling ban to major European stock markets, allowing investors to bet on further falls in financial stocks, the FT reports.

The price of gold futures touched a new high above $1,850 overnight as panicked investors sold off shares heavily across the globe on growth fears.

The UK's index of 100 leading shares fell 2.76% to below 5,000 this morning, as global markets showed no signs of shaking off fears the West is heading back into recession.

US manufacturing data has sent markets plunging again, with the S&P 500 down 4.5% and the UK and Europe also tumbling.

France's AAA credit rating is "stable" said ratings agency Standard & Poor's, a week after rumours hit the market the country is facing a downgrade.

Morgan Stanley has warned the global economy is on the brink of recession as the US investment bank slashed its growth forecasts.