Strategic Bond funds were the best sellers amongst retail investors in February as they continued to rotate out of plain vanilla Corporate Bond vehicles.

Mortgage approvals declined in February for the third consecutive month, Bank of England figures reveal.

Greece plans to raise €5bn from a new seven-year bond in its first attempt to raise funds since the EU-backed safety net agreement for the country.

The FSA says although it has "mixed views" on the question of whether an adviser can be independent using just one platform, it is likely to push for IFAs to adopt multiple platform use.

Platforms will not be forced to offer a wider range of investments - some of which may be unsuitable and pose a high-risk, the FSA said today.

The FSA has slammed platforms for poor levels of disclosure in documentation and for failing to highlight the risks of investment.

The FSA has sent out a warning shot for platforms part-owned by fund managers and adviser firms, insisting any conflicts of interest must be clearly disclosed.

The FSA is set to bring in new capital adequacy requirements for platforms, it said today in its platform discussion paper, warning the cost of ongoing business for some players will increase.

The FSA is making it compulsory for platforms to offer re-registration by 31 December 2012.

An unbundled charging structure will improve clarity for customers according to the FSA's RDR, published today.