Legal & General's shares have gained 3% to reach a near two-year high on rumours Swiss insurer Zurich Financial is preparing a takeover bid.

The FSA has delayed the long-awaited publication of its platform consultation paper owing to intense lobbying from some of the industry's largest players.

The rate of insolvencies among UK businesses fell by 30% last month year-on-year, according to Experian.

The Dow Jones has made steady gains on the back of positive US economic news, allaying fears of a slowing economy.

Axa Wealth has added its first external third-party tax wrappers to its Elevate platform by linking up with Isle of Man Assurance (IOMA).

Nucleus has appointed a wrap operations director and technical operations manager as part of an ongoing recruitment drive.

The FTSE has extended early gains after figures showed inflation eased in July, with financials and mining stocks leading the charge into positive territory.

The FSA has imposed one of its largest-ever fines on an individual for insurance fraud as part of a wider crackdown which has seen five people banned in total.

Close Asset Management has appointed former Standard Life man Andrew Gillespie as marketing director and Anita Juneja, previously of Cofunds, as head of strategic relationships.

Tenet says it has provided more than £1m in financial support to its adviser firms - helping to bridge the funding gap left by banks unwilling to lend to small businesses.