News

Oil prices have jumped to a two and a half year high on fresh fears about supply and a weaker dollar.

The FTSE 100 opened higher this morning after a sharp fall yesterday on news Japan had been hit by a second earthquake.

Jean Claude Trichet, the president of the European Central Bank, has defended yesterday's 25 basis point hike in interest rates as good for the eurozone, as EU leaders prepare for talks on the bailout of Portugal.

The highest dividend growth is seen when there is a sharp rise in inflation and grow least when inflation is stable, says Patrick Ryan at Lazard Asset Management.

World markets have dropped after Japan was struck by a second earthquake in as many months.

A tsunami warning has been issued for north-eastern Japan after an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.4 struck off the east coast of Honshu.

Thomas Kwan has joined Baring Asset Management's emerging markets team as head of Asian debt.

J.P. Morgan Asset Management has appointed Gartmore's ex-head of credit John Anderson.

The Bank of England today held interest rates at 0.5% as fears over a sluggish economic recovery outweighed inflation concerns.

Moody's says it could cut its ratings of 19 UK banks to reflect the lower chance of a future government bail-out.