News

The FTSE 100 was up by just 1.21 points at 5,724.64 in early trading as investors await government borrowing and retail sales figures due out later today.

The G20 group of rich and poor countries is likely to make rapid progress on a radical IMF plan to tax the world's financial institutions in the hope of reaching a deal by the end of the year, the chancellor, Alistair Darling, said today.

Goldman chief Lloyd Blankfein attacked the SEC's fraud charges in telephone calls to clients yesterday as the banking giant continues to try and stem the damage to its reputation.

JPMorgan has changed the name of its US Discovery investment trust following a change in the investment objective.

S&P is to expand its ratings service by recognising strong performers over five consecutive years.

Hedge fund Paulson & Co has been forced on the defensive over the firm's role in the Goldman Sachs fraud dispute.

VCTs have doubled their fundraising in the most recent complete tax year, according to the AIC.

Anthony Bolton has taken out a £65m gearing facility on his Fidelity China Special Situations trust as the manager wastes no time in accessing the region's equity markets.

The Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted unanimously to hold fire on any changes to interest rates this month, but some members are growing increasingly concerned about inflation.

UK unemployment rose by 43,000 in the three months to February, the highest figure since the three months to December 1994, according to figures released today by the Office for National Statistics.