News

Markets and the single currency reacted strongly yesterday after the European Central Bank hinted at raising interest rates as early as April.

Bank of England deputy governor Charlie Bean has defended MPC policy in the face of persistently high inflation, warning the economy could be on the verge of a "durable slowing".

Billionaire investor George Soros has urged Western nations to support revolutions in the Middle East to gain allegiance with new-found democracies.

European Central Bank president Jean-Claude Trichet has hinted interest rates may rise next month to fend off inflation pressures, reports Bloomberg.

MAM Funds is preparing to float a small and mid-cap biased equity income trust for new managing director Gervais Williams.

Schroders is this month launching the UK Core fund, the first in a suite of low cost actively-managed products, for Richard Buxton's UK equity team.

Threadneedle has closed its European Smaller Companies Crescendo hedge fund and launched a new absolute return portfolio focused on the region.

Aviva has boosted its UK profits by 21%, led by higher sales in the life and pensions business.

World markets have responded positively to Brent crude futures falling by more than $3 after the Arab League said it was considering stepping in to end the crisis in Libya.

Carl Stick has totally sold out of bank holdings in his £483m Rathbone Income fund, looking instead to stocks in the insurance and retail sectors.