European finance ministers and the International Monetary Fund have agreed a €85bn (£72bn) bail-out for Ireland in an effort to calm market fears of a new banking crisis.

Dwarf tossing on Wall St, work experience at the FSA and an unfortunate pensioner. It's IFAonline's slightly leftfield round-up of the week.

AWD Chase de Vere is considering introducing telephone and online-based services to cater for its low value clients next year.

Negotiations to reduce bank bonuses have been hit by the withdrawal of Standard Chartered from talks with the government.

The FSA has charged five individuals for insider dealing, adding to the 11 currently being prosecuted by the regulator.

An Ipswich-based IFA this week staged a one-man protest against Chelsea Building Society for what he insists are 'misleading' claims about its investment products.

Ireland was last night poised to nationalise its two biggest banks as the country continues to be battered by the financial crisis.

The Irish government has announced plans to save €15bn over the next few years to tackle the country's debt crisis.

The government has said it has no intention of allowing Alternative Investment Market (AIM) shares to be held in ISAs.

Dan Waters is to step down from his role as director of conduct risk and asset management sector leader, with Christina Sinclair taking over on an interim basis.