News

Leading shares are mixed at the outset leaving the FTSE 100 barely changed, down 0.32% or 19 points to 6,004, although tech firm ARM received a boost.

There is a lack of appetite amongst European investors for bond funds across the continent after a net withdrawal of €4.6bn in November, according to Lipper's latest monthly snapshot.

The combination of high valuations for US bonds and large retail inflows suggests a bubble about to burst, says Henderson's Simon Ward.

M&G's Jim Leaviss says an interest rate rise in the UK could be "GDP suicide", although the Bank of England may still succumb to inflationary pressure.

Graham Kitchen, head of UK equities at Henderson, has taken over as head of equities from Bill McQuaker.

The FSA has fined a former research analyst £50,000 for making misleading and inaccurate disclosures to clients through Bloomberg instant messenger.

The Bank of England has maintained interest rates at 0.5% and kept its quantitative easing programme at £200bn.

Property financier Sir John Beckwith is backing the launch of a new hedge fund, in partnership with Icap boss Michael Spencer.

Soaring commodity prices could cause stock exchanges to temporarily shut, and even bring down governments as it leads to social unrest, says commodities guru Jim Rogers.

The FTSE fell back from yesterday's 31-month closing high in early trading Thursday, despite strong global gains overnight following a successful bond sale in Portugal.