Over 1,000 advisers are expected to sign up for a diploma level qualification, showing they are keen to prepare for tougher rules on professionalism.

Gross mortgage lending continued to fall in August and has reached its lowest figure in more than three years.

Central banks around the world are to auction up to $180bn in a coordinated action to help relieve liquidity problems.

Shares in HBOS are soaring in early trading on Thursday on the back of its confirmed £12.2bn takeover by Lloyds TSB.

Lloyds TSB plans to extend its wealth management products and services by leveraging off its own and HBOS's long term savings product suites.

Lloyds TSB has revealed the details of its £12.2bn takeover of Britain's largest mortgage and savings bank HBOS.

Income drawdown has become the flexible solution sought by many in their post working life. From a standing start in the mid-1990s, this year, drawdown accounts for over 21% of new funds earmarked to provide retirement income.

Apologies to the esteemed Mr Shakespeare, but when it came to writing lines that pass the test of time, he was undoubtedly the master. How much he knew about sophisticated financial packages, however, is debatable.

Trading on Russia's main stock exchange, the RTS, has been suspended after falling 6% on Tuesday.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average has fallen by more than 2% after markets opened in the US.