News

A fall in mining shares on the back of drops in metal prices led the FTSE down 0.8% to 5,202.85 points in early trading.

Polar Capital's assets under management rose 71% to $2.5bn (£1.7bn) in the year to 31 March 2010.

The financial press is largely reporting the emergency Budget has been as scary as promised, with "bloodbath", "eye-watering", and "excruciating" all featuring among the headlines.

Sterling has strengthened against the US dollar and euro on the back of today's emergency Budget, while gilts have also bounced.

Economists are broadly positive on today's emergency Budget and are scrambling to revise their own growth forecasts in light of the austerity measures.

Former managers Nick Purves and Ian Lance were given the option of vetoing Schroders' purchase of a 49% stake in RWC Partners after joining the boutique last month.

Gary Shaughnessy, UK managing director of Fidelity International, responds to today's Budget.

Here are all the key facts from today's Budget you need to know...

The UK's planned gilt sales in 2010/11 have been revised down by £20.2bn to £165bn due to the Government's debt reduction programme outlined in the Budget.

The Government is to introduce the final changes to VCTs which were agreed with the European Union.