The Bank of England has delivered a more gloomy prognosis for the UK economy, saying it is unlikely to grow again until the middle of next year.

Legal & General saw its new savings business grow by 6% during the last quarter as it shifted its focus to non-commission business.

In London, shares fell slightly in early trade, down 7.75 (0.18%) to 4,417.79 as mining shares fell back.

The number of people unemployed in the UK registered its smallest rise for six months in April, boosting hopes the worst of the fall-out from the economic slump has now passed, according to The Times.

Friends Provident chief executive Trevor Matthews today urged the UK Government to embrace the Australian life cover model.

The FSA today admits its disclosure rules for mortgage advisers are inadequate, but suggests the industry is at least partly to blame for allowing it to introduce one of the mortgage arena's biggest evils - self-certification.

The FSA is considering an RDR-style review of the way mortgage brokers are remunerated, following concerns over commission bias.

Way Group has today announced the full range of funds it will make available for inheritance tax (IHT) mitigation through the Ascentric wrap platform.

New buyer enquiries soared to their highest level in a decade in April, figures show, while the number of homes sold edged higher.

Microsoft made its first ever move into the bond markets yesterday, announcing plans for a $3.75bn (£2.48bn) issue.