The £6.4bn Artemis Income fund has been downgraded to a 'sell' in the latest Sanlam Private Investments (SPI) Income study, the widely followed guide to income funds.

Close Brothers saw its assets under management creep higher in the five months to 31 December 2013, while broker arm Winterflood saw performance improve.

Chancellor George Osborne has warned Britain still faces "painful cuts" in its efforts to achieve a stable economy.

Miton's Gervias Williams has been appointed co-manager of Bill Mott's PSigma Income fund as part of a reshuffle which sees Neil Cumming exit the group.

Barclays is to cut 1,700 UK branch jobs from 2014 as customers move online for services.

F&C Investments is planning to launch a fifth fund in Gary Potter and Rob Burdett's risk-targeted Lifestyle range.

Sales of equity funds are on track to reach their highest level since 2000, with net sales of £8bn in the first nine months of 2013.

The Bank of England is expected to raise its growth forecast for the UK to 3% following the strong recovery the country has seen.

Standard & Poor's has downgraded France's credit rating from AA+ to AA.

Half the companies in the FTSE 100 could be affected by new rules designed to protect minority investors.