Advisers are shunning Japanese equities in favour of corporate bond funds despite Japanese smaller companies returning over 11% last month.

Advisers are making the decision to move client funds out of beleaguered New Star Asset Management, with one platform noting a ten-fold increase in transfers away from the company's funds so far this month.

Sterling has tumbled to a new low against the Euro today, falling to a record low of 89.98p.

A number of homeowners say their mortgage repayments have dropped slightly since last year, according to the Bank of England (BoE).

Asking prices for homes fell in December and now stand more than 10% below May's peak, the latest Rightmove survey has revealed.

The Government should apologise for its handling of Equitable Life and pay compensation, demands a House of Commons Select Committee including MPs from all the major political parties.

Trustees of the Thorn pension fund have completed a landmark £1bn buyout transaction with Pension Insurance Corporation.

David Ingram, partner at support services provider threesixty, has criticised the FSA's 'gold-plating' of capital adequacy requirements for adviser businesses which he believes could impact on the competitiveness of UK firms.

The head of Barclays bank predicted today that the economic gloom gripping the UK would deepen further, with house prices set to tumble as unemployment figures soar.

Friends Provident has defended an adviser alert service after being accused of encouraging IFAs "to do its job for them".