News

The top rate of VAT has risen from 17.5% to 20% as the government looks to boost tax revenues to cut the UK's debt levels.

City analysts believe the FTSE 100 could hit an all-time high of almost 7,000 points this year as the global economic recovery gathers pace.

London's leading index rose almost 150 points, or 2.48%, to reach 6,045 by late morning, buoyed by the commodities sector.

The Irish government is poised to inject a further €3.7bn into Allied Irish Banks, effectively nationalising the lender.

A family-owned hedge fund will offer investors the chance to use Twitter posts to gauge the mood of the stockmarket.

Neptune's Rob Burnett says the EU authorities will be pushed to take stronger action in the first half of next year to shore up the sovereign states and European banks.

China has offered support to the eurozone to help it through the debt crisis that has gripped the region.

Blue chips have had a first stab at hitting the magic 6,000 level following gains in the US overnight and are regrouping after falling just one point short.

The Treasury and the FSA are proposing to extend the regulator's powers to discipline firms who flout EU regulations or decisions made under UCITS IV.

Market bulls will be the winners of 2011 as a number of factors will push global equities higher, according to SWIP's Mike McNaught-Davis.