Keith Skeoch, the head of Standard Life Investments, has predicted the FTSE 100 will close the year at 6,000 points, 14% higher than yesterday's closing figure.

Tineke Frikkee, manager of the £2.52bn Newton Higher Income fund, expects BP to resume dividend payments as early as February next year.

Prudential CEO Tidjane Thiam says he "very much regrets" the collapse of the insurer's giant $35.5bn AIA takeover, which has cost the company £377m.

M&G posted a 32% jump in net retail inflows over the second quarter, with the asset manager recording £1.92bn of net sales.

Prudential has posted a 41% jump in operating profit to £968m in the first half, well ahead of expectations.

The FTSE 100 has slid more than 2% lower this afternoon after US markets suffered even sharper losses in early Wednesday trading.

RWC Partners is poised to unveil a trio of funds for star recruits Nick Purves and Ian Lance, including a covered call strategy similar to the managers' former Schroder Income Maximiser vehicle.

European markets are in retreat this morning on fresh fears for global growth sparked by a gloomy outlook from the US Federal Reserve.

Rumours are escalating in the City that fund manager Gartmore could be ripe for a takeover approach, as its share price is more than £1 below its December 2009 flotation price.

The Federal Reserve plans to reinvest principal payments on its mortgage holdings into long-dated treasuries in an effort to revive the stuttering US economic recovery.