A permanent annual levy on bank balance sheets is expected to raise about £2.5bn for the Treasury every year, the government said today.

The CII has batted away suggestions it sought to profit from the RDR, saying measures it has taken to help advisers meet its qualification requirements have only marginally upped revenues.

We have reached a turning point. For what may be the first time, the RDR appears to have more proponents than it has opponents.

David Child has stepped down as managing director of technology provider 1st Exchange.

Conservative MP Harriett Baldwin today called for a reassessment of FSA proposals to ban commission and enforce higher minimum qualification requirements on experienced advisers as parliament debates the RDR for the first time.

Bank of England governor Mervyn King last night warned of an unpleasant, "sober" decade ahead and hinted at further QE ahead of today's government Spending Review.

Former Park Row sales and marketing director Carey Shakespeare has joined Brooks Macdonald Asset Management (BMAM) as head of marketing.

The "most arduous" thing qualified advisers are likely to have to do to be RDR compliant by 1 January 2013 is "read a chapter in a textbook", the CII says.

London recovered from an early blip in early trading on Tuesday as investors get ready for tomorrow's comprehensive Spending Review.

Women aged over 51 have accrued less than £38,000 on average in retirement savings, compared to almost £55,000 saved by men, a new report warns.