greece

FIXED INCOME

SPECIAL REPORT

COMMENT

GLOBAL

GREEK DEFAULT

Lloyds Banking Group helped the FTSE 100 gain 6% over 2012 and reverse the losses of the previous year.

London's blue chip index approached its year-high in morning trading, with banking shares among the best performers, as hopes for a resolution to the US fiscal cliff boosted sentiment.

Standard & Poor's has increased its rating of Greece's sovereign debt by six notches, after efforts by its eurozone neighbours to keep it in the currency union.

Panic about house prices, asset bubbles and China caught our readers' attention this year, with the views of leading hedgies and controversial industry figures featuring in our list of the 20 most read stories of 2012.

Eurozone finance ministers have negotiated a rescue package for the rapidly deteriorating Greek economy following ten hours of intense talks in Brussels.